Transport for the North today welcomes the spending announcements which the Chancellor has made for towns and cities in our region.
Investments in light rail systems across city regions in the North were announced by Rachel Reeves in a speech at a bus factory in Rochdale – part of £15 billion for transport projects across the country. It includes more than £2 billion to fund a new mass transit system in West Yorkshire with “spades in the ground” by 2028, extending Greater Manchester’s tram system, bringing the Metro Link to Washington in the North East, and renewing South Yorkshire’s Supertram. New rapid bus routes for the Liverpool city region and new bus stations in Wakefield and Bradford were also announced.
Chief Executive, Martin Tugwell said: “Better connectivity is fundamental to unlocking sustainable and inclusive growth. If people are unable to move around easily because of poor transport options it means the whole local economy is held back.
“These vital investments will help to improve the transport connections for our city regions. TfN is committed to working with our Mayors and political leaders in the North to help deliver these schemes.
“We are also pleased to hear that the Chancellor has listened to the advice from TfN and others in the North to reform the Treasury’s ‘Green Book’, to drive more investment in all regions. We will continue to work closely to inform that review with the North’s data and evidence.”
The Chancellor said that more announcements on transport funding would be made in next week’s Spending Review announcement.