One North: Region’s Cities Come Together At Last

A NEW transport plan has been developed by a coalition of key Northern cities. 

Whether the impulse for all this love is driven by politics or by a genuine understanding for better rail links, well, who cares?

Confidential is watching with increasing pleasure the rising tide of opinion on how the Northern Cities might be better connected.

At last, it seems, all political parties are waking up to the need for the great northern English cities to realise their potential. Infrastructure is vital in this. And whether the impulse for all this love is driven by politics or by a genuine understanding for better rail links, well, who cares? If we get the money for the work, that's what matters.

In September 1830 the first inter-city rail link in the world opened between Liverpool and Manchester. It's good to see we have a fresh head of steam building. 

The Northern Cities' report, One North: A Proposition for an interconnected North has been formulated in response to the challenge set out by Sir David Higgins, chair of HS2, in his original report and the Chancellor in his Northern Powerhouse speech on 23 June and is being launched by an alliance of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield. 

The ambitious programme laid out would maximise economic growth across the north, boosting transport links and helping rebalance the national economy. 

If adopted, the £15 billion, 15-year investment plan, which complements the HS2 proposals, could deliver benefits for the whole of the North of England including up to 150% additional capacity on roads and as much as 55% faster journey times on a faster, more frequent interconnected rail network.

It would also deliver new trains running on a dedicated 125 mph trans-Pennine rail-link, a faster route to Newcastle and better access to ports and airports – improving freight and logistics movements across the country and benefiting personal and business travellers.

One North

One North has been supported by a significant number of other key cities and regions including Hull, Bradford, Wakefield and York – who have all helped shape the findings of the report.

The report proposes:

• Increased road capacity for both freight and personal travel through extended managed motorways, addressing gaps in the network and improving links to ports.

• A very fast, frequent and high quality intercity rail network joining up city regions – including a new trans-Pennine route (tunnelled as necessary), a faster link to Newcastle and improved access to Manchester Airport.

• Improved regional rail networks to provide additional capacity and help sustain growth, interconnected with HS2 and intercity services plus local tram networks and more park and ride facilities.

• New rolling stock (as a priority), electrification of existing lines, higher service frequencies and addressing pinch-points on the rail network.

• A digital infrastructure enabling real-time information, greater network resilience and faster connections between key areas to personal and business users.

• Improved access to enable efficient freight movements by rail, road and water including ports, rail links and distribution centres.

• Building HS2 early – extending Phase One to Crewe and bringing forwards the delivery of HS2 between Leeds and Sheffield.

• Improving East/West rail freight capability across the Pennines, linking major ports to north/south rail routes.

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: “Sir David Higgins set us a challenge to make the case and we are responding in a single clear voice with this landmark report.

“The current constraints on our transport networks, the product of years of neglect and under-investment, affect the competitiveness of the north. East-West journeys take almost twice as long as equivalent journeys in the south and our rail links are too slow and unco-ordinated. Our motorways are congested, and there is an over-reliance on the M62.

“Addressing these limitations will require ambitious action, co-operation and a co-ordinated approach to strategic planning and investment – bringing together rail, road, water and freight and enabling the great cities of the north to be more than the sum of their parts. We need a new holistic approach to strategic investment and planning. The reward would be a substantially increased contribution to the national economy.”

Councillor Keith Wakefield Leader of Leeds City Council said:  “The North has long been calling for better connectivity between cities outside London. Getting the right investment in our transport systems would deliver unprecedented change to better connect people and jobs, which is crucial if we also want to rebalance the national economy. 

“This report demonstrates once again that only through tackling our out-dated transport system will the North be able to fulfil its true economic potential, benefiting our own local communities and the country as a whole. 

“HS2, supported by strong regional transport networks, has the potential to bring transformational regeneration and investment to many of our cities and city regions. Building from the North would increase the pace of that change while at the same time delivering much needed jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities.”

The Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson said: "In the 19th Century almost half of the world's trade moved through the Port of Liverpool, but getting freight to and from the Liverpool City Region is just as important today - the planned SuperPORT is going to increase volume by 70% in 2030.  So we need better, faster connectivity - both East-West and through HS2.  Improved trans-pennine connections will lead to a huge, exciting boost in commercial confidence and growth across the North as millions of people find it easier to do business with each other." 

Newcastle City Council Chief Executive, Pat Ritchie, said: "One North is a demonstration that the great northern cities can work together to shape transport plans which would transform the economic competitiveness of the north - linking people to jobs, goods to customers and  our businesses to international markets. Ensuring that Newcastle and the north east are part of an integrated approach to transport is essential to delivering our vision for economic growth in the region." 

Julie Dore, Leader of Sheffield further commented:  “Transforming the connections between our great Northern cities is vital if we are to make the most of our unlocked economic potential.  An ambitious, integrated and planned approach towards infrastructure investment in the north will enable us to achieve our ambitions for our economy. For years our transport network has been far too slow and inferior compared to London and the south east.  This report outlines the steps we need to put this right but we need the tools to make this happen. Getting city to city connections right will act as a catalyst for our cities and city regions which we need to drive job creation and rebalance growth in the UK.’