Rail users on track for huge boost in services

The 530m scheme would see a 40 per cent increase in trains per day across the north of England, with 700 extra services, capacity for a further 3.5 million passengers per year and quicker and more frequent journeys from Leeds and Sheffield to Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester.

The investment would ease pressure on one of Britain's worst rail bottlenecks around Manchester and cut travel time to the city to around 43 minutes from Leeds – 10 minutes faster than the current quickest route.

Funding for the plans is still to be approved, however, and, although there will be some private sector investment, Network Rail admitted it would have to get the bulk of the money from the cash-strapped Government.

A decision on funding for the project is expected to be made in 2012.

Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher said: "Through better connections, faster services and improved stations we want to trigger wider growth in the north which in turn will support local jobs and businesses.

"Our ambitious vision includes miles of track, viaducts, new platforms and electrification to keep driving up passenger demand while keeping freight on the rails – and lorries off our already congested roads."

The plans, called Northern Hub, propose six trains an hour between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester, more frequent services from Dewsbury and Huddersfield and direct services to Manchester Airport and Liverpool from Bradford and Halifax.

In South Yorkshire there will be more trains from Rotherham to Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester, faster trains between Doncaster and Liverpool, Chester and Preston and better connections to North Wales, the West Midlands and Lake District.

There will be new sections of track on the routes from Leeds and Sheffield to Manchester to allow faster trains to overtake stopping services.

The director of policy at Yorkshire and Humber Chambers of Commerce, Nick Pontone, said: "Improving rail capacity across our region is vital to our economic competitiveness.

"Businesses will therefore welcome Network Rail's 'ambitious' proposals, but they will need to be backed with hard cash to turn their ambitions into reality."

The first part of the study into rail services was carried out the Northern Way, an alliance of regional development agencies in the North.

Network Rail led phase two of the study and will now continue to work with the industry to develop the plan. They are working with partners to win funding for the proposals, which are planned from 2014.

The chairman of the Northern Way Transport Group, Prof David Begg, said: "Network Rail's work shows that the Northern Hub proposals are affordable and give value for money.

"We are calling for the Government to give a clear commitment to delivery in the 2014 to 2019 period when they publish their investment plans for the railways in 2012."

TIMETABLE OF TRAIN BONANZA

2010 – Network Rail launches Northern Hub report and later this year will start consultation on proposals.

2012 – Government will

set out national rail service requirements for 2014 -2019 and confirm whether it agrees the need for

Northern Hub improvements. Network Rail to set out

a detailed plan to

meet Government target services.

2013 – Office of Rail Regulation to decide on funding available to

meet Northern Hub proposals.

2014 – Potential start of work proposed by Northern Hub report.