Northern leaders have agreed initial route preferences and a phasing plan for the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme following a Transport for the North (TfN) meeting yesterday.
The NPR network will be formally agreed by the TfN board in January 2021 and will then go forward for consideration by government in a Strategic Outline Case in March.
Elected mayors, council and business leaders have recommended the government commits to the project - a network of new and significantly upgraded rail lines for the North of England.
They say securing funding and commitment is a critical component of the government’s desire to ‘level up’ economic performance of the North with the rest of the country.
The network spans from Liverpool to Hull, Sheffield and the North East, and would begin construction in 2024/5. It also links fully with HS2, with shared track, stations and junctions in parts.
NPR director Tim Wood said it is a “significant moment” for the scheme.
“We have an initial preferred way forward for a rail network that will deliver thousands of jobs, cut carbon emissions and slash journey times between the North’s towns, cities and beyond,” he said.
“With the need to build back better following the Covid-19 pandemic, delivery of long-term, job-creating infrastructure projects like NPR need to be a critical component of the agenda. The preferred network would be transformational for the North’s economy and allow Northern workers access to enhanced opportunities through a wider jobs market.
“We’ll now enter discussions with government and look at ways in which the number of remaining options can be further shortlisted and delivery accelerated for the sake of the North’s communities and future.”
The proposed NPR network includes:
- A new line to be constructed from Liverpool to Manchester via the centre of Warrington
- A new line to be constructed from Manchester to Leeds via the centre of Bradford
- Significant upgrades and journey time improvements to the Hope Valley route between Manchester and Sheffield
- Connecting Sheffield to HS2 and on to Leeds
- Significant upgrades and electrification of the rail lines from Leeds and Sheffield to Hull
- Significant upgrades of the East Coast Mainline from Leeds to Newcastle (via York and Darlington) and restoration of the Leamside line
The move comes ahead of the publication of the government's Integrated Rail Plan which will set out long-term investment plans for rail upgrades in the North.
Due to be published by the end of this year, the plan is expected to recommend how investment in rail projects like NPR, HS2 Phase 2b, and the TransPennine Route Upgrade will be delivered.
