Northern Powerhouse rail overhaul promises major boost for trains.

The government has set out a major Northern Powerhouse Rail programme, with a £45 billion funding cap and an initial £1.1 billion for development and design work.

Ministers have set out plans for a major overhaul of rail services in northern England under the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme. The plan includes new lines to and from Manchester and major upgrades in West Yorkshire. The Treasury says a funding cap of £45 billion will be set and an initial £1.1 billion is available for development and design. Officials describe the work proceeding in phases with improvements on existing routes in the 2030s. Key facts: - A £45 billion funding cap will be set for Northern Powerhouse Rail, and the programme could be topped up by local contributions. - An initial £1.1 billion over the Spending Review period is allocated to development and design work to create a detailed delivery plan with timings. - Phase one, planned for the 2030s, will focus on improving existing routes between Sheffield and Leeds; Leeds and York; and Leeds and Bradford. - Phase two would involve a Liverpool–Manchester route via Manchester airport and Warrington using a mix of new and existing lines, and phase three would improve east–west links from Manchester to Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York. - Funding includes provision for a new Bradford station and plans aim to restore and extend services to Newcastle via Darlington and Durham and to Chester for North Wales connections. - Recent performance figures show low reliability on northern routes, with over one in 25 trains cancelled last year and nearly 7,000 cancellations in 2024 linked to floods, resulting in about 130 days of delays. Summary: Officials say the programme is intended to improve connectivity across the North and support economic growth. The initial £1.1 billion will fund development and design work that should lead to a detailed delivery plan with timings. The government's wider Northern Growth Strategy is due to be published in spring.