The North of England is on track for a transformative boost in its transport links, following confirmation of two major projects in last week’s Budget. Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh visited Manchester to discuss the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and the A57 Link Road upgrade, which promise to enhance connectivity, cut journey times, and support regional growth. The government’s investment reflects a commitment to improving travel, easing congestion, and creating economic opportunities across the region.
Revitalising the Transpennine route
The TRU will modernise the main line connecting Manchester to York, with stops in key cities such as Leeds and Huddersfield. Set to become a high-performing, electrified rail line, the route will offer faster, greener, and more reliable services. When complete, the TRU will support up to six fast trains per hour, cutting Manchester-to-Leeds travel times from 50 to 42 minutes, and reducing journeys from Manchester to York by 10 minutes. These upgrades will also save an estimated 87,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, helping to align the project with the government’s sustainability goals.
Initially launched in 2017, the TRU faced significant delays as successive governments wrestled with concerns over spiralling costs. However, the commitment has now been secured. The project involves extensive and complex engineering work across 70 miles of track, impacting 12 stations, 65 bridges, and six tunnels. The upgrades include everything from electrification and signalling to civil structures and track improvements.
When finished, the project is expected to increase line capacity and alleviate peak-period congestion, ultimately improving service quality and enhancing safety and comfort for passengers.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves highlighted the significance of these transport upgrades for the North’s economic future.
Investment in our transport infrastructure is vital to delivering our growth mission. Without improvements to our roads and rail, we won’t be able to create jobs and boost business. That’s why I prioritised projects like the Transpennine Route Upgrade and the long-awaited A57 upgrade in the Budget last week. Securing the delivery of these two important schemes brings our key Northern economic centres closer together.”
Reeves added that the government’s investment reflects a commitment to “end fourteen years of neglect of the North, instead bolstering the region’s immense growth potential to benefit the whole country.”
Creating local jobs and skills
Beyond improving travel times, the TRU has already become a significant source of local employment, with over 5,000 people working on the project. The initiative also supports skills development, offering more than 300 apprenticeships that allow people to build careers in their hometowns. This local impact is especially valuable in the North, where job opportunities in infrastructure can help drive regional economic growth. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh stressed the importance of these projects for local communities, saying:
Reliable, well-connected transport links are crucial to driving up productivity and unlocking opportunities for jobs, education, and businesses across our towns and cities. But for too long, the North’s transport infrastructure has been neglected.
That’s why I am delighted the Chancellor’s first Budget secured the delivery of two multi-billion-pound projects that will be vital for rail and road journeys across the North of England. I look forward to working on the successful delivery of both schemes, which will make a huge difference to people’s everyday journeys – making traveling between these great towns and cities quicker, easier, and greener.
A57 upgrade to ease congestion and cut travel times
In addition to the TRU, the government has also committed to the long-awaited £250 million A57 Link Road upgrade. This project will create two new link roads to reduce congestion, cut travel times, and improve air quality around Manchester and Sheffield. The upgrade will benefit local communities by alleviating rat-running on surrounding roads and providing shorter commutes, while businesses will enjoy more reliable connections between major economic centres.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham praised the government’s renewed commitment.
This major investment in our roads and railways will mean better connections between Greater Manchester and key towns and cities across the Pennines. After years of failed promises, it’s a real statement of intent from this new government that will provide quicker, more reliable journeys for millions of people, and help to unlock the enormous potential of the North as an engine for growth.
Community support and project progress
Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines believes there is strong community support for the TRU and the progress already being made on the project. He explained:
This vital project will transform connectivity across the North, delivering a significant economic boost for the region, and it’s going well. Passengers and communities alike have been hugely supportive and understanding as we work night and day to make our plans a reality.
Haines suggested the Chancellor and Transport Secretary’s recent visit allowed them to witness the “substantial progress” being made by Network Rail’s teams, including the electrification of the Manchester-to-Stalybridge section.
Funding for local road improvements
Alongside these major rail and road upgrades, the government announced an additional £500 million for local highways maintenance. This increase will support councils in the North as they address road maintenance issues, including repairing up to one million potholes per year. Improved road conditions will benefit drivers and public transport users alike, enhancing the quality of everyday journeys and supporting local businesses that rely on efficient transport links.
After years of broken promises and unfulfilled “levelling-up” plans from previous governments, the new Labour government’s investments in the TRU, A57, and local road infrastructure offer the North a much-needed and vital boost. These projects represent a long-overdue commitment to connect the region’s communities, improve daily journeys, and unlock its economic potential. Once completed, these upgrades will mark a major and long-awaited step toward transforming the North’s transport network and supporting sustained growth in the region.
Adapted from a press release by Laura Wilson, Department for Transport
