Calls to improve rail link to north

Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram

NEW Metro Mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region want radically improved west to east rail links to connect the main urban centres of the north.

Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram are calling on the leaders of the three main political parties to pledge their support.

They will be asking Theresa May and Tim Farron to match the commitment given by Labour to prioritise what the two Metro Mayors are terming Crossrail for The North ahead of London's proposed Crossrail 2 scheme.

The proposed link from Liverpool to Hull has been championed by political and business leaders and economists having previously been promoted by the former Chancellor George Osborne.

Improved rail connectivity and capacity across the Pennines was seen as a fundamentally important prerequisite for the Northern Powerhouse vision and its mission to re-balance the UK economy.

The Metro Mayors will be focussing on the economic potential of the initial phase of the proposed line between Liverpool and Manchester. Emerging proposals would not only improve linkages between the two city centres but would also connect the region's two airports. They are also calling for the establishment of a North West Skills Academy to provide the training required to equip people in the region to benefit from the jobs created.

Mr Burnham said: "We're demanding a commitment from all of the main parties to build HS2 together with west to east rail links; we need Crossrail for the North before investment in Crossrail 2 for London.."

Mr Rotheram, said: "There is a compelling logical and economic case for better and faster connectivity between the two cities."