{"id":60235,"date":"2015-08-11T09:04:27","date_gmt":"2015-08-11T09:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=6b1997748a3bdaab76fa129eb94ac211"},"modified":"2015-08-11T09:04:27","modified_gmt":"2015-08-11T09:04:27","slug":"news-story-government-boost-for-northern-powerhouse-farnworth-tunnel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=60235","title":{"rendered":"News story: Government boost for Northern Powerhouse: Farnworth Tunnel"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin visited Farnworth, near Bolton today, Tuesday 11 August 2015, to see how major rail improvements are helping to create a Northern Powerhouse.<\/p>\n

The transport secretary visited the Farnworth Tunnel, where tunnelling work is now underway to provide faster, better journeys and more space for passengers travelling between Manchester, Bolton and Preston.<\/p>\n

The work is part of the government\u2019s commitment to build a Northern Powerhouse that will help the north of England unleash its full power, and create a balanced, healthier economy. A blueprint of how \u00a313 billion is transforming transport links across the north is today being published by the Department for Transport.<\/p>\n

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Blueprint for connecting the Northern Powerhouse<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: <\/p>\n

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This one nation government is determined to close the economic gap between north and south. Investing in transport \u2013 something that successive governments have failed to do sufficiently \u2013 is vital to making that happen.<\/p>\n

We had a choice – building the infrastructure our country needs, or letting our transport system become a brake on growth and opportunity. We have chosen to invest for the future.<\/p>\n

Across the north, that investment is already having a huge impact, with programmes \u2013 like the impressive work at Farnworth \u2013 underway to upgrade our railways and our roads. We are determined to keep the momentum going.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Farnworth work \u2013 which began in March – involves re-drilling the existing tunnel, using a machine bigger than those used on the Crossrail and Channel Tunnel projects, so that the rail line can be electrified. This will allow faster, greener electric trains with more capacity to be introduced from the end of 2016.<\/p>\n

The work is part of Network Rail\u2019s north of England programme, an investment of over \u00a31 billion to improve the region\u2019s railways, allowing hundreds more trains to run and providing space for millions more passengers a year.<\/p>\n

Making transport better by improving the links that bind the north together is integral to the Northern Powerhouse. It will bring cities and regions closer together and strengthen connections – Liverpool to Hull, the north west to Yorkshire, the north east and the Midlands \u2013 making it easier for hard working people and businesses to access markets or deploy their skills.<\/p>\n

Other transport improvements either planned or underway include:<\/p>\n