I think the main issue with NPR is it needs to have a "what's it for" question. At least one North - South higher speed line to create capacity is needed in Britain but in my opinion HS2 isn't the right solution. I find the map of NPR odd that the large population centre of Teesside is not connected to NPR.
What It's for, or maybe what it should be for, is to create sufficient capacity for northern cities to enjoy the sort of local rail services that are taken for granted in the south east, while providing some reduction to journey times between them.
With no disrespect to Teesside, it seems to me a bit far east to justify routing any main line through it (particularly when said main line is likely to be the ECML, with maybe a bypass at Durham). However, NPR should include speeding up the existing lines to Middlesbrough from York and Newcastle, and something similar for Sunderland (maybe, one day, a re-opened route linking it directly to the ECML rather than via the coast ?)