Major £ 14 billion plan to repair the ‘broken’ rail system in the English region: two new stations, capacity upgrades and electrification to accelerate travel

A large £ 14 billion plan to repair the ‘broken’ rail system of Yorkshire, was unveiled today, including building two new stations and increasing capacity on three hubs.

Former Interior Minister Lord Blunkett said that the proposal “offers a one -off opportunity” improving connectivity and unlocking economic growth in the region.

The Work Peer has published an infrastructure plan that recommends building a new through station for Bradford and a Mainline station in Rotherham.

The report also outlines the need for increasing capacity at Leeds, Sheffield and York stations, as well as upgrades and electrification between Leeds and Sheffield.

Increasing the frequency of services for places such as Scarborough, the ESK Valley, Penistone Line and the five cities of Wakefield District are also part of the proposal.

The plan launched with the Metro Mayors of West, South and North Yorkshire calls on the government to support the transport in Noord -Engand.

The Lord Blunkett, born in Sheffield, who was Minister of Thuisbase from 2001 to 2004, said that Yorkshire’s plan would yield a huge boost for jobs, growth and new homes.

Today he is launching the plan in Leeds together with the mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, and mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, who signed the White Rose agreement earlier this year to work together.

Lord Blunkett said: ‘Yorkshire has beaten far too long, and with the White Rose agreement and this infrastructure plan the three mayors are determined to reverse this historical trend.

‘It was a pleasure to be asked to bring this credible and affordable plan together, which offers a one -off opportunity to improve rail connection and to unlock economic growth and opportunities for everyone.

‘By taking action now, the benefits of releasing capacity, accelerating travel, improving reliability and performing more frequent services will not only be felt here, but in the north, midlands and then. It’s time to support Yorkshire. ‘

The assessment of Lord Blunkett outlines how a ‘creaking infrastructure from the Victorian era’ stops a region of 4.6 million people, with poor and unreliable services that regularly do not meet the needs of passengers and companies.

It describes a need for substantial investments as part of the proposed 10-year infrastructure plan of the government and later this year, with £ 2.4 billion required between now and 2030, and around £ 14 billion in total.

The report said that targeted rail investments have the potential to add £ 20 billion to the economy of the region and can help generate 83,000 extra jobs.

Mayor of West Yorkshire Mrs. Brabin said: ‘A lack of investments that stretch for decades for decades has left Yorkshire with a rail network that is no longer suitable for the goal.

‘This blocks ambitious growth plans for our regions that will put more money in the pockets of people.

“We owe it to everyone, especially younger generations, to guarantee our honest part of the financing, so that the train services of the region are suitable for the modern age, get passengers where they have to go when they want to go.”

The mayor of York and North Yorkshire, Mr. Skaith, said: ‘Working together, we can stimulate real change and stimulate opportunities in our region.

“This is a credible, long -term plan to deliver the connectivity that our communities need – creating better access to jobs, education and investments.”

And the mayor of South Yorkshire, Mr. Coppard, said: “For the first time, David Blunkett made clear the problems created by decades of sub -investment throughout the Yorkshire and gave us a plan to repair them, collaborate in the entire country of God.”

He added: ‘In the end we just want reliable, effective railway services, so that we can work, see friends and family or just go out for a night out.

“Because of this plan there is a path with a phased approach to repair our broken rail system.”

The Ministry of Transport said it will carefully consider the recommendations of Lord Blunkett, and emphasizes that it is committed to improving transport through the north.

A spokesperson said: ‘Reliable and affordable links of public transport are essential for supporting jobs and stimulating economic growth, making the key to our plan for change and travel faster, easier and greener.

‘We invest in the North and deliver transformational projects throughout the region, such as the multi-billion-pound persennine route upgrade, and we maintain the momentum at Northern Powerhouse Rail by continuing planning and design works to support future delivery.

“We will continue to collaborate with local leaders to improve rail connection.”

It said that the Rail Network asked to maintain development work for updates at Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford, and supports the massive transit plans of West Yorkshire by providing £ 200 million development financing.

The department also said that it had given priority to financing to develop plans for a new Rotherham Mainline station and to extend the Supertram network that connects Sheffield and Rotherham.

And it said that under large British railways there will be a legal role for decentralized leaders in driving, managing, planning and developing the rail network.

The announcement comes two days after a new railway line between Liverpool and Manchester who would ‘beat far beyond his weight’ was presented by regional leaders in the northwest.

Mayors Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham, in addition to former Rail Huw Merriman Minister, urge the government to support the plans.

A report in which the case is set out for the new Liverpool-Manchester railway states that it would reduce travel times between city centers to 32 minutes compared to an average of 49 minutes at the moment.

It would also yield more than half a million more people within 30 minutes after the destinations.

The line would run from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Piccadilly, with stops at a new Liverpool Gateway Station, Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport.