The
chancellor


Rachel
Reeves
has
confirmed
that
£15.6
billion
is
to
be
invested
in
public
transport
for
urban
areas
outside
London
over
the
next
five
years.
She
has
also
indicated
that
more
rail
investment
is
set
to
be
announced
next
week.

The
plans
announced
today
include
a
new
Manchester
Metrolink
line
to
Stockport,
a
Midlands
Metro
extension
connecting
Birmingham
City
Centre
to
a
new
sports
quarter,
work
starting
on
the
new
mass
transit
system
connecting
Bradford
and
Leeds
via
Kirklees,
Calderdale,
Wakefield
and
Pudsey,
renewals
of
the
South
Yorkshire
tram
network
by
replacing
the
fleet
with
modern
trams,
an
extension
of
Tyne
&
Wear
Metro
to
connect
Washington
with
Newcastle
and
Sunderland,
upgraded
railways
near
Bristol
to
improve
the
service
from
the
new
Brabazon
estate
to
the
city
centre,
as
well
as
funding
to
pay
for
the
development
of
a
mass
transit
system
in
the
Greater
Bristol
area
including
Bath,
a
new
mass
transit
system
to
connect
Derby
and
Nottingham
and
a
platform
extension
at
Middlesborough.

The
Chancellor,
who
was
speaking
at
the
Mellor
Bus
Factory
in
Rochdale,
said:
‘For
the
first
time,
the
Treasury
takes
account
of
the
benefits,
and
not
just
the
costs,
of
investment.

‘Together
the
fiscal
rules
mean
that,
unlike
our
predecessors,
we
will
not
be
balancing
the
books
by
cutting
investment.

‘Next
week,
I
will
set
out
our
plans
in
full
–
for
England,
Scotland,
Wales
and
Northern
Ireland;
in
housing,
in
energy,
in
roads
and
in
rail.
But
today,
I
want
to
tell
you
about
just
one
part
of
our
plan
–
renewing
our
transport
systems
in
England’s
largest
mayoral
regions,
including
here
in
Greater
Manchester
and
across
the
North
and
the
Midlands.

‘Because
connectivity
is
an
absolutely
critical
factor
in
unlocking
the
potential
of
towns
and
cities
outside
of
London.
One
of
the
areas
in
which
previous
governments
have
promised
most,
but
delivered
least.
And
that
will
now
change.’

Transport
for
the
North
chief
executive
Martin
Tugwell
said:
‘Better
connectivity
is
fundamental
to
unlocking
sustainable
and
inclusive
growth.
If
people
are
unable
to
move
around
easily
because
of
poor
transport
options
it
means
the
whole
local
economy
is
held
back.

‘These
vital
investments
will
help
to
improve
the
transport
connections
for
our
city
regions.
TfN
is
committed
to
working
with
our
Mayors
and
political
leaders
in
the
North
to
help
deliver
these
schemes.

‘We
are
also
pleased
to
hear
that
the
Chancellor
has
listened
to
the
advice
from
TfN
and
others
in
the
North
to
reform
the
Treasury’s “Green
Book”,
to
drive
more
investment
in
all
regions.
We
will
continue
to
work
closely
to
inform
that
review
with
the
North’s
data
and
evidence.’

Mott
MacDonald’s
transport
market
lead
for
UK
&
Europe
Thomas
Knight
said:
‘The
overall
commitment
of
an
additional
£15.6
billion
for
trams,
trains
and
buses
is
a
bold
and
welcome
step
that
will
help
unlock
economic
potential,
improve
connectivity
and
support
communities
across
the
country.’

The
chief
executive
of
the
Railway
Industry
Assocation
Darren
Caplan
said:
‘RIA
and
our
members
welcome
all
investment
in
rail
infrastructure,
which
benefits
not
just
the
industry
but
also
supports
increased
economic
growth
and
connectivity
in
every
nation
and
region
of
the
UK
more
widely,
supporting
jobs,
GVA
and
Treasury
revenues.

‘So
we
welcome
the
commitment
by
Chancellor
Rachel
Reeves
today
to
change
funding
rules
to
ensure
the
Government
“gives
every
region
a
fair
hearing
when
it
comes
to
investments”,
as
this
benefits
both
the
rail
network
and
railway
suppliers
who
build,
renew
and
enhance
rail
–
whether
track
or
train
related
–
all
around
the
country.

‘RIA
and
our
members
have
been
working
closely
with
Combined
Authorities,
mayors,
and
regional
transport
bodies
on
their
regional
rail
plans
in
recent
years,
and
will
of
course
continue
to
do
so.’

The
Campaign
for
Better
Transport
has
also
welcomed
today’s
announcement.
The
charity’s
chief
executive
Ben
Plowden
said:
‘It’s
great
to
see
the
Government
investing
in
the
local
transport
infrastructure
that
will
tangibly
improve
the
lives
of
millions
across
our
city
regions
and
particularly
good
to
see
trams
being
prioritised
in
several
areas.

‘Fast,
frequent
and
reliable
public
transport
is
essential
to
unlocking
opportunity
and
driving
inclusive
economic
growth.

‘We
hope
to
see
similar
commitments
to
revenue
funding
in
next
week’s
Spending
Review,
alongside
support
for
local
authorities
to
plan,
deliver
and
run
the
high-quality
transport
services
their
communities
need.’

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