ALMOST two centuries ago Liverpool was in the driving seat with high ambitions to build the world’s first inter-city rail line

It led, in 1830, to the opening of the legendary Liverpool to Manchester Railway, fuelling a global revolution in transport.

January 2015 - and the biggest revolution since the days of King George III has started its journey in Leeds.

The first meeting has taken place of Transport for the North, a new alliance of the north’s key authorities and agencies which was set up by the Government last October.

It is led by the city regions that made up One North: Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle, together with Hull and the Humber, working in collaboration with the Department for Transport, Highways Agency, Network Rail, and HS2 Ltd.

The Transport for the North Project Board, meeting for the first time in Leeds, aims to produce an interim report in March.

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Setting out its stall on this debut day were the leaders of the two cities at the extreme ends of the line,  Liverpool’s Mayor Joe Anderson and the Leader of Newcastle Council, Cllr Nick Forbes.

Spelling out the vision of cutting the journey time between the Mersey and the Tyne from three to just two hours,  the two politicians spoke the great times ahead.

What might trouble some leaders down the line, will be if the first super fast link is between George Osborne’s favourite cities, Manchester and Leeds.

Undaunted, Mayor Anderson and Nick Forbes teamed up to back the case for coast to coast transport improvements which will genuinely unlock the potential for economic growth across the north.

Mayor Anderson said: “If we want to rebalance the economy, we also have to rebalance transport spending. Government has invested billions on Cross Rail in London and continues to spend significantly more per capita in London than it does across the entire north.

“In Liverpool, our port is busier than ever and we are investing to grow it significantly over the next few years. We have to make sure we have the transport infrastructure in place to be able to carry freight and passengers across the north if we are to maximise the benefits. It’s only with this approach that the whole of the UK economy will benefit.

 “We are ready to go, we are ready to provide, we are ready to thrive, but we simply can’t do it without the long term commitment of government to invest for a whole northern future.”

Cllr Nick Forbes said: “The One North proposals are hugely important to the economic resurgence of the North of England. The plans will join up the North from the Mersey to the Tyne - reducing journey times from Newcastle to Liverpool from three hours to two hours. 

“Just as the great Geordie genius George Stephenson helped unleash the Industrial Revolution when he built the first railways across the north, a joined up north from the Mersey to the Tyne can once again be the economic powerhouse which will transform the UK’s economy. And it is not just rail - this is an integrated plan which will see the extension of motorway networks and a recognition of the hugely important role played by regional airports as vital transport hubs.

“The whole of the north stands united behind this plan with clear governance, a strong proposition, and a sound business case. We hope that the Government will work with us to make the most of this exciting opportunity.”