Transport secretary Grant Shapps confirms a budget of £96 billion for the new IRP, saying that the plans for HS2 had been designed ‘in isolation from the rest of the transport network’.
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Key points:

The eastern leg of HS2 will stop at East Midlands Parkway but the DfT will remain ‘open to additions’.

A new high speed line will be built from Warrington to Manchester and the ‘western border of Yorkshire’.

The Midland Main Line and the Transpennine Main Line will be both be electrified. The East Coast Main Line will be upgraded with track improvements and digital signalling.

Rail journey times between Birmingham and Nottingham will be cut from 75min to 26min.

There will be a new ‘mass transit’ scheme for Leeds.

£360 million also confirmed to extend contactless ticketing to hundreds of stations outside London, including 400 stations in the north.
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Grant Shapps: ‘This plan will bring the North and Midlands closer together. It will rebalance our economic geography. It will give passengers in the Midlands and North the service they need and deserve. ‘

Labour shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon: ‘This is a betrayal of trust. A massive blow for our regions. 

He promised HS2 to Leeds. He promised Northern Powerhouse Rail. He promised the North would not be forgotten. He hasn’t just forgotten us — he’s completely sold us out.’

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