Rachel Reeves says new railways will change the North

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a major Northern Powerhouse Rail investment to connect Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York with faster, more frequent services, saying it responds to long-standing underinvestment.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced what the article describes as the biggest investment in northern rail in a generation. She said the Northern Powerhouse Rail project will connect Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York with faster, more frequent services and that services will extend to Newcastle and Hull. The announcement is framed as a response to long-term underinvestment in trains, buses and roads that the article says has affected jobs and communities across the North. The article also notes recent measures cited by the government, including a freeze on rail fares and a £3 bus fare cap. Key points: - The plan is named Northern Powerhouse Rail and is described in the article as the largest northern rail investment in a generation. - The announcement lists connections among Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, with services to Newcastle and Hull. - The article gives current service examples, saying Liverpool currently has two fast trains an hour to Manchester and journeys to Manchester Airport can take up to 1 hour 25 minutes for about 28 miles. - The article states that in Leeds only about one third of people can reach the city centre within 30 minutes and describes the city as lacking mass transit. - The article reports recent government measures including freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years and keeping a £3 bus fare cap. Summary: The announcement is presented as intending to speed journeys, increase frequency and support jobs and economic growth in northern cities, with the article citing a potential £40 billion annual uplift if regional productivity reaches the national average. Undetermined at this time.