MP welcomes multi-billion pound rail investment as new connection promised for Huddersfield
The Government plans to create a new rail connection between Huddersfield and Bradford under its Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme.
On January 14, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the £45bn plan for railways in Yorkshire and the North. In its entirety, the project is divided into three phases, with routes in and out of Leeds, Sheffield, York and Bradford first in line for investment in the 2030s. A new line between Liverpool and Manchester and better connections across the Pennines will come in later stages.
The move has been welcomed by Huddersfield MP, Harpreet Uppal, who says the programme, alongside the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) will be “transformative” for the region. This month, she asked Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, how the plans will support regeneration in towns like Huddersfield and would connect to the TRU.
In response, Ms Alexander confirmed that phase three of the NPR plan will deliver improvements in the area, including a new connection between Bradford and Huddersfield, building on the work under the TRU. She also said that the additional investment from NPR will provide great opportunities to the thousands of people currently employed on the TRU who can go on and get jobs working on NPR.
Huddersfield and Yorkshire residents are set to benefit from:
Faster, more frequent and reliable train services.
Better connectivity through Huddersfield as part of the existing TRU, and a rail connection between Huddersfield and Bradford.
Thousands of skilled jobs, with opportunities for TRU workers to transition to NPR projects
Speaking after her question, Ms Uppal said: “I am a proud Northerner, but for too long we have had to face challenges from underinvestment in our communities.
“The plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail, alongside the TRU, will be a game changer for our communities and economy. Huddersfield sits at the heart of these investments, which will unlock huge economic opportunities while also supporting the regeneration of Huddersfield.
“Our Towns, Cities and Communities across the North have huge untapped potential, and I am so proud that our government has made it a priority to unlock this.”
Following the announcement, Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “For too long, the North has been held back by underinvestment and years of dither and delay – but that ends now. This new era of investment will not just speed up journeys, it will mean new jobs and homes for people, making a real difference to millions of lives.”