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

  • Continued impact of TEN-T programme
    November 29, 2012
    The Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency (TEN-T EA) launched for the second year running a campaign aimed at showcasing successfully implemented TEN-T projects. The “ten (more) out of TEN” campaign highlights ten additional TEN-T projects whose successful implementation has yielded regional, national and European added value and which are helping to complete the TEN-T network.
  • USDOT expands real-time travel information with US$2.6 million in grants
    February 25, 2015
    The US Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has announced $2.571 million in grants to expand the use of real-time travel information in 13 highly congested urban areas across ten states. Known as integrated corridor management, or ICM, the grants will help selected cities or regions combine numerous information technologies and real-time travel information from highway, rail and transit operations. Such tools can help engineers make better decisions about congestion managemen
  • Government funding to get hydrogen cars moving
    October 10, 2014
    The arrival of hydrogen cars on UK roads is a step closer today as Business Minister Matthew Hancock announced up to US$17.6 million of funding from Government and industry to help prepare the UK for the roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The investment will help establish an initial network of up to 15 hydrogen refuelling stations by the end of 2015. It includes US$3.2 million of funding for public sector hydrogen vehicles. The announcement follows news earlier this month tha
  • US pledges £250m aid to transit jobs
    June 23, 2021
    Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg is allocating funds to projects in 31 US states