Skip to main content

Government sets out blueprint for Northern Powerhouse

The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) has set out the blueprint for how US$20 billion of government investment in transport will help create the Northern Powerhouse. The investment aims to make transport better by improving the links, bringing cities closer together and strengthening connections. The blueprint shows how transport links across the north are being transformed by government investment. Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “This one nation government is determined to close the e
August 14, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The UK’s 1837 Department for Transport (DfT) has set out the blueprint for how US$20 billion of government investment in transport will help create the Northern Powerhouse.

The investment aims to make transport better by improving the links, bringing cities closer together and strengthening connections. The blueprint shows how transport links across the north are being transformed by government investment.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “This one nation government is determined to close the economic gap between north and south. Investing in transport – something that successive governments have failed to do sufficiently – is vital to making that happen.

“We had a choice - building the infrastructure our country needs, or letting our transport system become a brake on growth and opportunity. We have chosen to invest for the future.

“Across the north, that investment is already having a huge impact, with programmes underway to upgrade our railways and our roads. We are determined to keep the momentum going.”

Commercial secretary at the Treasury Lord O’Neill added: “Investing in first class transport infrastructure is a key part of our commitment to create a Northern Powerhouse. Our investment is helping to better connect the region, building a strong Northern economy, and it is great to see the huge progress already underway.”

The blueprint includes some recently-completed projects, including new electric train services between Manchester, Liverpool and Wigan for the first time. Other improvements include US$7.5 billion investment in the period up to 2020/21 in over 40 major road schemes across Yorkshire, the north east and north west; the opening of the refurbished station at Manchester Victoria this autumn; a new southern entrance to Leeds station, to serve the expanding commercial area south of the River Aire; new franchises that will see modern trains and additional capacity on Trans-Pennine services between Leeds and Manchester and the removal of Pacer trains on Northern routes; work to deliver faster trains and better services between Sheffield and London; in the longer-term, transforming city to city rail connectivity across the region, radically reducing travel times, through HS2 and TransNorth east-west rail links.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Sydney gets real-time bus information
    December 18, 2012
    Sydney bus passengers can now track whether their bus service is running late, with the New South Wales (NSW) government making real-time information on bus movements available to mobile app developers. The latest versions of TripView, Arrivo Sydney and TripGo allow users to locate the nearest bus stop and ticket machine, predict when a bus is to arrive and see where a bus is on its route using GPS data from the Public Transport Information Priority System (PTIPS). The real time information will initially b
  • Recognition for Cubic and Southern Railway smartcard
    October 7, 2014
    Southern Railway’s the key ITSO smart card, developed by Cubic Transportation Systems, has won the prestigious Putting Passengers First category at the National Rail Awards 2014 in London. The award recognises the close cooperation of the two organisations with the judges noting that together, Cubic and Southern have produced the first mass application national rail smart card. It provides passengers with unrestricted travel on most of the Southern network, stretching along the south coast of England, t
  • Smoothing out city freight movements
    May 28, 2014
    David Crawford welcomes a national first. Urban freight movements, while commercially and socially vital, are a growing logistical headache for planners and people alike. Figures from France’s Lyon Laboratory of Transport Economics indicate that goods transport in major urban areas accounts for: 20% of traffic; 35% of CO2 emissions made by all urban trips; and 50% of the diesel used; while final km delivery runs account for 20% of the total cost of the transport chain.
  • Opinion: Infrastructure Act falls short
    December 16, 2021
    The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act has been passed, garnering applause across the political spectrum – but not everyone is excited. Scott Shepard of Iomob explains his concerns, and points to some unwelcome parallels with the recent Cop26 climate conference