Transport for the North has welcomed the announcement of funding to ensure that Northern Powerhouse Rail can connect seamlessly with HS2, future-proofing the railways of the North of England. This will ensure that as much of the North as possible benefits from this major infrastructure investment.
Providing fast, frequent and reliable rail services across the North is vital to the economy of the whole of the United Kingdom. When planning the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme we have been mindful of the importance both of accommodating future demand and making the most of infrastructure investment that has already been committed, particularly HS2.
This announcement is a significant step forward in TfN’s plans for the development of Northern Powerhouse Rail. It will enable much-needed transformational rail connections for the north to be delivered cheaper, faster and with less disruption.
We look forward to continuing to work with the government and partners to ensure that future growth in services is planned for when designing these vital connections. This will include further work on the arrangements at Manchester Piccadilly and we are pleased that the Chancellor recognises the importance of keeping all options open. This will ensure that there is enough capacity and flexibility to provide for both HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail services, and to allow for growth throughout the 21st century and beyond.
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