By KLTV Newsdesk –

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged that people across the North will no longer be held back by a failing transport system and unfulfilled promises as the Government unveils a landmark investment in rail and local transport.

Revitalising the Liverpool-Hull Corridor

In a major push to unlock the economic potential of the North, the government is injecting £1.7 billion this year to transform the Liverpool-Hull corridor into an economic powerhouse.

This package will more than double local transport funding in the North compared to London and the South, underpinning the government’s Plan for Change to enhance living standards and provide long-term stability for communities.

Key Investments in Northern Transport

The funding announcement includes:

• £415 million for the Manchester-Huddersfield-Leeds-York rail corridor, a route long plagued by delays and cancellations, to restore its reliability and improve services.
• Over £1 billion for local leaders to enhance transport services, empowering regional mayors and ensuring local decision-making.
• £270 million for bus services and £330 million for road maintenance, ensuring smoother, more reliable journeys for millions of commuters.

By working closely with local leaders, the government aims to bridge the gaps that have long held Northern towns and cities apart, unlocking their full potential.

Supporting Thriving Industries and Universities

The Prime Minister underscored that better connectivity will support booming industries across the North, including Sheffield’s nuclear sector, Leeds’ fintech hub, and Liverpool’s life sciences industry.

It will also benefit leading universities that have been hindered by poor transport links, ensuring the North remains competitive with its southern counterparts.

During a visit to a factory in the North of England, the Prime Minister urged local leaders to accelerate key infrastructure projects. Among the major projects set to move forward are:

• West Yorkshire’s Mass Transit System – a long-awaited metro network for the region, with the next business case expected in the autumn.
• A new Merseyrail station in the Baltic Triangle – improving links to ‘Britain’s coolest neighbourhood,’ with construction beginning this autumn and completion slated for spring 2028.
• An £80 million redevelopment of Bury Interchange – enhancing bus and tram connectivity across Greater Manchester.

‘A New Way of Governing’

The Prime Minister framed today’s announcement as a shift away from broken promises of the past: “The North is home to incredible talent and ingenuity, yet it has been shackled by a Victorian-era transport system.

“Having lived in Leeds for years, I understand the real-world impacts – missed appointments, children late for school, and work disruptions, all leading to insecurity for working families.

“We are rolling up our sleeves. Today’s investment is a down payment for growth and a vote of confidence in the North’s world-leading industries.

“The film studios in Bradford, the life sciences in Liverpool, and the fintech sector in Leeds all deserve a government that backs them.

“We are putting double the local transport funding into the North compared to the South, working hand-in-hand with mayors and local leaders.

“This is about restoring fairness, linking historic towns and cities, and boosting living standards.”

Regional Leaders Welcome Investment

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin hailed the funding as a game-changer, particularly for the long-awaited mass transit system: “This investment will help unleash our ambitious plans for economic growth, improve living standards, and put more money in people’s pockets.

“The return of trams to Leeds and Bradford for the first time in 75 years will be transformational. We understand the Prime Minister’s challenge to speed up delivery, and we are ready to rise to that challenge.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander reinforced the government’s commitment to ending transport inequality: “For too long, the North has relied on a crumbling transport system. The government’s Plan for Change will correct that, with projects like the TransPennine Route Upgrade making travel between Northern cities faster, easier, and greener.”

Once completed, the TransPennine Route Upgrade will cut journey times between Manchester and Leeds from 50 to 42 minutes, offering up to six fast services per hour.

Travel from Manchester to York will also be 10 minutes quicker, marking a significant improvement for commuters and businesses alike.