Faster links for Northern England revealed in transport plan
A plan to advance and develop transport over the North of England has been revealed.
Part of this £70 billion scheme will include the ‘Northern Powerhouse Rail’ project, originally named High Speed Three, with the aim of delivering a rapid rail network for the north. Passengers across the north of England will benefit from quicker connections and a new station hub based at Manchester Piccadilly.
These plans are the product of a request by the Department of Transport to Transport for the North (TFN), a new authority led by mayors and local councillors. The TFN, whose logo design features an arrow pointing north, was created in 2018 to advance transport improvements across Northern England. CEO of the organisation, Barry White stated:
“For the people of the North, this will mean more choice over where they live and work, access to higher quality jobs and better connections to friends and families.”
Around 1.3 million people could be living an hour’s commute from the international airport at Manchester and four major cities in the north as a result of the proposal unveiled.
Faster and more frequent, Northern Powerhouse Rail will improve services between economic centres like Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester and by connecting to the High Speed Two rail line opening in 2026, it will strengthen links to London and the Midlands.