{"id":54441,"date":"2015-02-27T07:01:03","date_gmt":"2015-02-27T07:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=546c666f0c58b0720c9398b5b411e8cc"},"modified":"2015-02-27T07:01:03","modified_gmt":"2015-02-27T07:01:03","slug":"statement-to-parliament-transforming-the-norths-railway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=54441","title":{"rendered":"Statement to Parliament: Transforming the north\u2019s railway"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A transformation in transport connectivity between the cities of the north is vital to realising their potential to become a \u2018northern powerhouse\u2019 for the UK\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

On 27 October 2014, the government set out how it intended to work with Transport for the North, Network Rail and the Highways Agency to develop a new transport strategy for the north<\/a>. <\/p>\n

A central plank of this work is improving the railways connecting the northern cities. As announced by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, this includes the development of proposals for HS3, a high speed rail link designed to cut journey times between these great cities, boosting businesses and creating more jobs and security for hardworking people. <\/p>\n

This work continues apace, and it remains the government\u2019s intent to publish an interim report shortly.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, I am pleased to inform the House that I published today (27 February 2015) the invitations to tender for the next Northern<\/a> and TransPennine Express<\/a> rail franchises. <\/p>\n

I have also published today \u2018Transforming the north\u2019s railway\u201d, a stakeholder briefing document that sets out the government\u2019s response to the consultation<\/a> on the 2 franchises that took place from June to August 2014.<\/p>\n

These publications mark an important first step in the transformation of the train services in the north of England to support economic growth. More people than ever are using the north\u2019s railways, and the demand for travel by rail into our great northern cities is predicted to grow into the future. Passengers, businesses, local communities and their representatives across the north told us that railway services must be revitalised and expanded upon under the new franchises in order to be fit for the twenty-first century and to achieve our vision for the \u2018northern powerhouse\u2019.<\/p>\n

The government has listened carefully to those views. The invitations to tender published today, the result of the government\u2019s collaborative work with Rail North, representing local transport authorities across the north, require the shortlisted bidders for the 2 franchises to start on the journey of transformation that is needed. <\/p>\n

This includes:<\/p>\n