The Government needs ‘to go further than committed investments in existing routes' from Leeds and Sheffield to Manchester, according to Transport for the North (TfN).
TfN’s Spring update report, which sets out the body’s progress over the last three months, says options have been identified to achieve more frequent and faster rail journeys between the main cities in the North - a programme dubbed Northern Powerhouse Rail.
TfN has also identified the ‘Trans Pennine Tunnel’ – the strategic road link between Greater Manchester and the Sheffield City Region – as a priority for future investment.
TfN chair John Cridland said: ‘I’m delighted with the progress of our ambitious plans to transform infrastructure in the north of England. Our vision to rebalance the economy will greatly benefit residents of the north and the United Kingdom as a whole.
'Looking to the future we’ll build on our research, which is underpinned by the first independent economic review for the north, to devise a prioritised investment programme.’
TfN says that while on some rail routes, work to upgrade existing lines is likely to achieve the desired results, other routes could need new lines.
It is developing a range of options for rail routes between Leeds and Manchester and between Sheffield and Manchester ‘including new lines for the route, or very significant sections of new line’.
The Financial Times reports Lord Adonis is expected to make the Leeds to Manchester route a priority in a key National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) report next week.
However reports suggest Lord Adonis might opt for short-term improvements, such as full electrification, while a new line could be built further in the future.
Despite this possible difference of strategy, TfN says it is working closely with the NIC ‘to identify and the strategic transport connectivity needs of the North’.
The TfN report also says that between Manchester, Manchester Airport and Liverpool ‘there is potential to integrate with the planned HS2 infrastructure including the option of providing a new line’.
On roads, it says a new link between Greater Manchester and Sheffield City Region could reduce journey times by 30 minutes and a tunnel under the Peak District National Park would improve the resilience of trans-Pennine road travel and reduce the environmental impact of existing roads.
Initial reports from two other strategic studies – the Northern Trans Pennine Roads (A66/A685 and A69) and M60 Manchester North West Quadrant – were published alongside the report
TfN highlights its implementation plan for ‘Smart North’ – proposals for simplified fares, integrated ticketing, and improved passenger information across the region - and states it is continuing to grow its capability and capacity towards statutory Sub-national Transport Body status by early 2017.
Stephen Joseph, chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: ‘This Northern Transport Strategy report is a good start, and its recognition that the key to growth in the North is efficient and affordable public transport and alternatives to car commuting is especially welcome. But this needs to be carried through to future roads investment, which should move from big unaffordable grand projects like the Trans-Pennine tunnel to making better and smarter use of existing roads.'
