Leeds City Region to benefit from major rail investment

The announcement confirms funding for completion of the Northern Hub – a package of rail enhancements based in and radiating from Manchester to Leeds and benefiting the whole of the city region and the north of England.

It will deliver faster journeys, improving connectivity between cities and provide more capacity for passengers and freight. Services will become quieter, cleaner, more reliable and greener trains with more space for passengers will be available.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said:

“These plans to increase capacity and shorten journey times on intercity, commuter and freight services are, alongside our plans for high speed rail, absolutely key to securing Yorkshire's prosperity in the decades ahead.”

Details include £240m investment in the East Coast Main Line, which will provide faster journeys and more capacity to Yorkshire and the North East.

This means an extra 5,100 passengers will be able to commute to Leeds in the morning peak period by 2019.

Huddersfield will also see more services introduced maximising benefits from the North Trans-Pennine electrification between Manchester and York, which we have already announced.

Electrification of the route between Micklefield and Selby will also allow a second electrified route between Leeds and Doncaster and onto the East Coast Main Line.