Northern city‑region mayors unite to press for full NPR delivery ahead of Budget

City‑region Mayors and local leaders across the North of England have issued a united call for the Government to deliver the full Northern Powerhouse Rail programme, setting out what they say is the only viable way to unlock growth, regeneration and transport capacity across the region.

image: TfGM

In an open letter to the Chancellor ahead of the next Budget later this month, the coalition of mayors and local leadership – operating under the banner of The Great North – emphasised that NPR must be delivered in full, describing it as the “spine that connects the whole North.”

According to the statement, the full NPR network would include:

• A new line from Liverpool to Manchester, running from Liverpool Lime Street via Liverpool Gateway, Warrington and Manchester Airport to an underground through station at Manchester Piccadilly. The new line would continue onwards to Huddersfield and Leeds via a new station in central Bradford and include electrification of the Leeds-Sheffield line.

• Significant upgrades to the Hope Valley and unblocking the East Coast Main Line north of Northallerton by reopening the Leamside Line to ensure effective services through to Sheffield and the North East; delivering previously committed improvements north of York and electrification of the Midland Main Line to Sheffield, and the long-overdue 70-mile stretch which connects Hull to Selby and Doncaster.

The Great North leaders say the fully upgraded NPR network would lead to better connectivity and create more capacity for freight and local passenger services. Network capacity improvements would support housing growth, regeneration of city‑centres and improved connectivity for business and people across the North.