04/10/2023
Today the Prime Minister outlined his vision for the country and committed to making the tough but right decisions.
This included the announcement that the second phase of HS2 will be cancelled.
Instead, the Government is launching a transformative programme to completely rejuvenate local and regional transport links across the country, focussing on the forms of transport that matter most to people, that best drive growth and jobs, and truly levels up the country.
It is called Network North.
£19.8 billion will be reinvested into strong local and regional connections in the North, meaning more frequent trains, greater capacity, faster journeys.
There will be major funding surges to create stronger public sector transport networks, deliver more bus routes, reopen railway stations, introduce new and improved road schemes.
A new £2.5 billion fund will transform local transport in fourteen counties, including North Yorkshire. £700 million will be granted to improve bus services in the North, including new demand responsive services to areas not currently served by conventional buses in the evenings and on Sundays.
£3.3 billion will go towards resurfacing roads and getting rid of potholes on our roads, and a new £1 billion fund will develop additional road improvement schemes across the North.
Over 100 railway stations will be made fully accessible to all passengers and, crucially, the £2 bus fare cap will now remain in place until the end of next year, rather than expiring at the end of the month.
This was not an easy decision. But it is the right one. The Prime Minister has committed to making the long-term decisions for a brighter future. For him, this is not just a slogan. It is a promise to change the way we do politics.
Today’s announcement is just the start – I fully support Rishi Sunak in this endeavour.
