Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “I welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement and the £600 million planned investment in transport projects across the North. Additional investment in the rail network across the North to rebuild our unacceptably decrepit infrastructure and improve passenger journeys and connectivity is essential, and this is a useful start.
“We need to see the details of the new Northern Transport Acceleration Council, especially to understand how it will work with Metro Mayors and local leaders. It is important that the National Transport Acceleration Council work together with Transport for the North, who represent 15 million people across the North. Decision about rail improvements cannot be made from a desk in Westminster: they need to be made in collaboration with local leaders, Northern Leaders and with existing structures.
“I will again be raising with the Secretary of State and the Rail Minister the urgent rail projects that need investment in and around South Yorkshire including the Hope Valley Line upgrade and the proposed new East Coast Rail Station at Doncaster Sheffield Airport. If the Government want to make good on their commitment to levelling up the North, then shovel-ready schemes such as this need to be funded.”
