Yorkshire business leaders have written an open letter to the Chancellor backing Yorkshire’s Plan for Rail, led by Lord David Blunkett, and calling for major investment to transform regional rail infrastructure.
The plan, commissioned by the region’s three mayors through the White Rose Agreement, outlines how better rail links – including new stations, line electrification, and increased capacity – could add £20bn to Yorkshire’s economy, create 83,000 jobs, and support 210,000 new homes over the next decade.
The letter, signed by CEOs and directors from organisations including Magtec, Virgin Media O2, University of Bradford, Westfield Health, and Yorkshire Building Society, stresses that improved rail is vital for economic growth, job creation, and opportunity across the North.
“This is not just a transport investment, it’s a statement of ambition for our place,” said Tariq Shah OBE, Co-Chair of the South Yorkshire Business Advisory Board. His fellow Co-Chair, Louisa Harrison-Walker OBE, added: “Getting Sheffield Station future-ready and returning Rotherham to the mainline will make a real difference to our region’s economic prospects.”
The letter warns that Yorkshire has faced decades of underinvestment and calls on government to use the upcoming Spending Review to prioritise rail infrastructure in the North.
Supporters include York and North Yorkshire Business Board Chair Jennifer Wood, Mandy Ridyard (Advisor to the Mayor of West Yorkshire), and Patricia Cobian (Virgin Media O2 CFO), who said: “Reliable rail is essential to regional growth and the wellbeing of our people.”
The message is clear: without action, poor connectivity will continue to hold back Yorkshire’s huge economic potential.
