Skip to main content

Strategy to connect the UK’s northern cities

Plans to revolutionise travel in the north, including a new TransNorth rail system and new road investments, will today be set out by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and northern city leaders. As part of building a northern powerhouse, the Chancellor established Transport for the North (TfN) to bring together northern transport authorities, and tasked it with working with government to create the first ever comprehensive tr
March 20, 2015 Read time: 3 mins
Plans to revolutionise travel in the north, including a new TransNorth rail system and new road investments, will today be set out by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and northern city leaders.

As part of building a northern powerhouse, the Chancellor established Transport for the North (TfN) to bring together northern transport authorities, and tasked it with working with 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 5021 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.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said: “Connecting up the great cities of the north is at the heart of our plan to build a northern powerhouse. This report has the potential to revolutionise transport in the north and we will work closely with TfN to help make it a reality.

“From backing high speed rail to introducing simpler fares right across the north, our ambitious plans for transport means we will deliver a truly national recovery where every part of the country will share in Britain’s prosperity.”

Commenting on the report, Simon Allport, North West senior partner at EY, said: “Today’s report marks the next step in a multi-modal, integrated Northern transport network, with the potential to connect our soon-to-be smarter cities internally, with each other and with the rest of the UK – helping to make the North a stronger economic force.

“Building on the Northern city’s One North report, the new report importantly signals a clear, phased investment plan to get the North moving and make its transport system smarter through innovations like smart ticketing. It will be interesting to see which of the options for new routes and upgrades are taken forward.

“Following development work by Transport for the North, the focus should be on securing the vital funding and public support for the new projects that require it. All stakeholders – including regional business leaders – should work together to help to shape the future of the Northern transport network.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Cheshire economy to benefit from major transport funding
    June 3, 2014
    Work can start on the Crewe Green Link Road in Cheshire following government agreement to fund the scheme. The scheme consists of a 1.1 km long dual carriageway road from the existing bypass on the A500 to the A5020 passing under the Crewe-Stoke Railway. The Department for Transport will fund up to US$26 million of the US$44.2 million scheme which will provide vital transport links to Basford, an important site for local employment opportunities. The scheme will also include a new bypass to the south east o
  • CIHT encouraged by targeted review of transport network resilience
    February 17, 2014
    CIHT welcomes the decision by Prime Minister David Cameron to launch a targeted review of the resilience of the transport network to extreme weather events, announced at the first meeting of the new Cabinet Committee on flooding. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin will lead the targeted review which will look at the plans for all transport providers and will build on the work of the Quarmby Review in response to cold weather. The review will report by the summer. The recent extreme weather events
  • How to overcome the technical and commercial challenges of MaaS
    January 8, 2024
    The UK government has attempted to unleash the possibilities of MaaS with the publication of a code of practice. Alan Dron takes look at how it might help encourage implementation
  • FTA demands no more delay in new Thames Crossing
    December 13, 2013
    Responding to the yesterday’s announcement that there is still no definitive answer to the location of the new Thames Crossing, the message from the Freight Transport Association (FTA) was “don’t delay and let the building begin to help improve capacity and ease congestion at Dartford as soon as possible”. The Government has stated that Option B connecting the A2 Swanscombe Peninsula with the A1089 has been ruled out of the process, but has failed to confirm as to where the new Lower Thames crossing wil