labour mp pledges to resist 'hammer blow to the north'

The decision to make new carriages a victim of the cuts was described as a "hammer blow" by Penistone and Stocksbridge Labour MP Angela Smith, who was a member of the Commons Transport Select Committee before the election.

Campaigners in this region have already seen Government promises to supply Northern Rail with 182 carriages by 2014 slashed. Weeks before the election MPs were still lobbying to find out how many the region would actually get but now any spending on carriages for 2010/11 for which contracts had not already been signed off will be deferred.

The Department for Transport has been told to save 683m – more than five per cent of its budget – which will also see grants to councils cut by 309m.

Transport for London's budget will be cut by 108m, Network Rail loses 100m, and 54m will be deferred from "lower priority schemes" including several road improvement projects and rail carriages which had been expected this year.

Ms Smith said: "I think it's a matter of great concern to MPs in the north of England. Before the election took place I sent out letters to all MPs in the North and got a very good response from MPs who wanted to make sure the North was defended in the investment it gets.

"This will come as a real hammer blow to the North and obviously I will be working as hard as I can to resist these cuts."

Earlier this year Ministers were accused of ignoring the misery of Leeds rail commuters after announcing eight new carriages for the Northern Rail network, none of which will serve West Yorkshire. Instead, they will be used on routes into Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.