In a keynote speech in Leeds, UK Transport Patrick McLoughlin has confirmed high-speed rail and Northern Powerhouse are a priority.
He said that boosting growth in the north, rebalancing the economy and creating a Northern Powerhouse were a vital part of the long-term economic plan and confirmed that work on High Speed 2 (HS2) is on track to start in 2017. Work is also well underway on developing plans for high-speed east-west rail links.
He confirmed that US$18 billion government funding would be invested to transform transport infrastructure in the north over the next five years - better connecting up the region so that northern towns and cities can pool their strengths and create a single economy, helping Britain better compete on the world stage.
And he pledged that the north will be empowered to shape its own future - by devolving power away from Whitehall. He said that by the autumn, Transport for the North (TfN) - the body established by the government to work with it on delivering a Northern Transport Strategy - will have a new independent chair to speak on behalf of the north with one voice on delivering improved train and bus services, rolling out smart ticketing, looking after passengers, reducing road congestion and speeding up links to ports and airports.
He said that boosting growth in the north, rebalancing the economy and creating a Northern Powerhouse were a vital part of the long-term economic plan and confirmed that work on High Speed 2 (HS2) is on track to start in 2017. Work is also well underway on developing plans for high-speed east-west rail links.
He confirmed that US$18 billion government funding would be invested to transform transport infrastructure in the north over the next five years - better connecting up the region so that northern towns and cities can pool their strengths and create a single economy, helping Britain better compete on the world stage.
And he pledged that the north will be empowered to shape its own future - by devolving power away from Whitehall. He said that by the autumn, Transport for the North (TfN) - the body established by the government to work with it on delivering a Northern Transport Strategy - will have a new independent chair to speak on behalf of the north with one voice on delivering improved train and bus services, rolling out smart ticketing, looking after passengers, reducing road congestion and speeding up links to ports and airports.
