The project – actually a series of projects to remove bottlenecks and improve lines - has been on Network Rail’s agenda for several years and has been the subject of vigorous campaigning by city councils of Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle. It is expected to deliver a 40% increase in capacity with quicker and more frequent rail services between the major cities.
Mr Osborne announced his backing for the scheme in his budget speech to Parliament today.
“I confirm today that Network Rail will extend the Northern Hub, adding to the electrification of the transpennine rail route, by upgrading the Hope Valley line between Manchester and Sheffield – and improving the Manchester to Preston and Blackpool, and Manchester to Bradford lines,” he said.
“For years, transport investment in the north of England was neglected. Not under this coalition government.”
Together with the £85m committed to the Ordsall Chord last year, it now means funding has been allocated for almost half of the Hub's projected £560m cost.
Network Rail chief executive David Higgins said: "Today's announcement of further funding for the initial stages of the Northern Hub is a welcome show of confidence in rail bringing benefits to passengers as well as driving economic growth. To realise the project’s total value of £4bn to the Northern economy and create between 20,000 and 30,000 new jobs, the final stages of funding will need to be supported in the rail budgets to be announced later this year."
Mr Higgins added: "The Hub – designed to revolutionise trans-Pennine rail with high-speed, non-stop services connecting cities across the North – would bring massive benefits to the economies of Yorkshire, the North West and North East.
"When completed, this project will be a clear demonstration of how investment in smart infrastructure can unlock economic potential by connecting commerce and communities across cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle with 700 new train services each day.".
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