Plans for northern transport set out

Illustrative cost and journey time examples of the new 'TransNorth' rail system

Plans to revolutionise travel in the North, including a new 'TransNorth' rail system and new road investments, will today (Friday 20 March) be set out.

As part of building a Northern Powerhouse,  Transport for the North (TfN) has been established to bring together northern transport authorities, and tasked it with working with the Government to create the first ever comprehensive transport strategy for the region, covering roads, rail, freight, airports and smart ticketing. TfN and the Government are publishing the first Northern Transport Strategy report today, following Network Rail work on rail improvement options.

The report sets out a long term strategy to connect up the north, create a single economy and allow northern towns and cities to pool their strengths. Plans set out in the report include: slashing journey times between major northern cities with investment in high speed rail; developing new east-west road connections including a road tunnel under the peak district; and introducing Oyster-style smart travel cards and simpler fares across the North.

Building on the concept of High Speed 3, the report sets out a long term strategy to connect the great cities of the north with a network of high quality rail connections. This ‘TransNorth’ network – with sections capable of speeds up to 140mph - would link Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and Hull. With such a network journey times between Liverpool and Manchester could be as low as 20 minutes; Manchester to Sheffield and Leeds could both be 30 minutes; Leeds to Hull could be just 45, and Sheffield to Hull 50 minutes. Journey times from Manchester to Newcastle could be cut by 25%.

Supporting studies by Network rail set out for the first time the different options for creating such a network and set out indicative costings. Options range from radically upgrading existing routes to building completely new lines. The Government will now fund further development of the options identified, with road and rail plans now jointly commissioned by Transport for the North and Government.