All 8 Yorkshire projects promised funding as PM axes HS2 northern …

The Prime Minister has announced the Government will support a series of transport schemes after scrapping HS2 north of Birmingham.

Rishi Sunak pledged to “reinvest every single penny ^[1], £36 billion, in new transport projects including a number in Yorkshire. The projects include the creation of what he named ‘Network North’, which involves improvements to road, rail and bus schemes ^[2].

A further £12 billion will be set aside to improve rail journeys between Manchester and Liverpool, which was a project previously announced as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail. Labour claimed that ^[3] “almost all” of the schemes announced by the Prime Minister “had already been part of Government plans so cannot be described as new investments nor reinvestments”, PA reports.

The Prime Minister’s press secretary said funding would be spent in the same 2029-40 period as planned for HS2. A Department for Transport document stated that individual projects “will be subject to the approval of business cases”.

Downing Street said transport improvements will include £19.8 billion invested in the North, this includes the following schemes:

£2 billion for a new station at Bradford and a new connection to Manchester.
£2.5 billion to deliver a new tram system in Leeds.
£3 billion for upgraded and electrified lines between Manchester and Sheffield; Sheffield and Leeds; Sheffield and Hull; and Hull and Leeds.
Nearly £4 billion more funding for local transport in city regions.
A new £2.5 billion fund for local transport across all areas in the North outside those city regions.
A new £3.3 billion fund for road resurfacing.
Fund the proposed Shipley Bypass in Bradford and the Blyth Relief Road in Northumberland.
Reopen the Don Valley railway line between Sheffield and Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire.

Speaking about the projects in his address to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester today, Mr Sunak said: “With our new Network North, you will be able to get from Manchester to the new station in Bradford in 30 minutes, Sheffield in 42 minutes and to Hull in 84 minutes on a fully, electrified line.

“We’ll protect the £12 billion pounds to link up Manchester and Liverpool as planned and we will engage with local leaders on how best to deliver the scheme. We’ll build the Midlands Rail Hub, connecting 50 stations.

“We’ll help Andy Street extend the West Midlands Metro… Build the Leeds tram, electrify the North Wales main line… Upgrade the A1, the A2, the A5, the M6 and we’ll connect our Union with the A75 boosting links between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“We’ll fund the Shipley bypass, the Blyth relief road and deliver 70 other road schemes. We’ll resurface roads across the country. We’ll bring back the Don Valley line. We’ll upgrade the energy coast line between Carlisle, Workington and Barrow. Build hundreds of other schemes. And keep the £2 bus fare across the whole country.

“I challenge anyone to tell me with a straight face that all of that isn’t what the North really needs. Our plan will drive far more growth and opportunity here in the North than a faster train to London ever would.”

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References

^{^} Rishi Sunak pledged to “reinvest every single penny (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
^{^} improvements to road, rail and bus schemes (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
^{^} Labour claimed that (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
^{^} ‘Welcome to Kirklees’ sign welcomes drivers to Calderdale in council clanger (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
^{^} here (www.examinerlive.co.uk)