Responding to today’s Spending Review, Transport for the North Chief Executive Martin Tugwell said: “We are very pleased with the extra investment in the North’s transport infrastructure and services that has been announced.
“An extra £3.5 billion for the TransPennine Upgrade, support for the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, and a four-fold increase in local transport grants are all very welcome, especially after last week’s announcement of billions for city region transport schemes.
“We are also pleased to see more support for bus services, including the extension of the fare cap, and franchising pilots in York & North Yorkshire and Cheshire.
“And we look forward to seeing the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy, including how Northern Powerhouse Rail will be progressed, later this month. The economy of the North is constrained by its creaking Victorian rail infrastructure; investment in new rail capacity is long overdue to unlock the region’s growth potential.”