Transport for the North (TfN) has welcomed a report from the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) which calls for immediate and sustained investment to transform transport links across the North, including funding to further develop a long-term plan for a transformation of east-west rail links.
The ‘High Speed North’ report, which was launched today by Lord Adonis and his team at Manchester Piccadilly station, calls for immediate investment in action now, accompanied with a plan for longer term investment to reduce journey times, increase capacity and improve reliability.
The report calls on Transport for the North to prepare a single integrated strategy on Northern Powerhouse Rail by the end of 2017. It is recommended that the short-term focus should be improving connections between Manchester and Leeds and that this should be developed and implemented by 2022. High Speed North also calls for accelerating investments in the strategic road network to increase capacity of the M62 and develop long-term proposals to improve pan-Northern strategic road links.
In response to the report’s findings, the chancellor is expected to announce funding in tomorrow’s budget, to develop detailed plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail between Leeds and Manchester, exploring options for a Trans-Pennine tunnel, as well as looking into improvements to the A66, A69 and the north-west quadrant of the M60, and to bring forward money to accelerate upgrades to the M62.
David Brown, Chief Executive of TfN, said:
“The report from the NIC provides further evidence of the need for sustained and well-planned investment to create a necessary transformation in Northern connectivity.
As announced today, we’re pleased to learn that the chancellor has picked up on the NIC’s recommendations and welcome additional funding to develop a well-researched and integrated strategy to drive forward Northern Powerhouse Rail. TfN is currently investigating best options for revolutionising journey times and train frequency between the North’s six principal city regions and the region’s biggest airport and expect to bring forward detailed proposals for action by the end of the year.
We also welcome the release of money to bring forward the M62 upgrade, alongside funding to enable development of longer term improvements to the North’s strategic road network. We look forward to working closely with Highways England to accelerate this work.
As TfN’s update to the Northern Transport Strategy which was published last week highlighted, work is already underway to develop transformational plans to enhance connectivity across the North. We look forward to working with the NIC and government as we develop an ambitious cross-modal transport strategy to create a central pillar of the Northern Powerhouse.”
Transport for the North (TfN) brings together local leaders and business representatives from across the north of England to speak with one voice on key infrastructure decisions which benefit the region as a whole. Its recently launched update to the ‘Northern Transport Strategy’ was underpinned by initial intelligence from the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review, the full results of which will be published later this spring.