A £600 million rail investment has been welcomed by northern transport groups and ministers.

Barry White, chief executive of Transport for the North, said yesterday: “We are delighted to see today’s announcement committing £600m to the Transpennine Route Upgrade, a key artery for passengers and freight in the north.

"This is a major step forward and we also welcome the commitment to develop proposals to fully the electrify the line – something that we asked Government to consider."

The group became England’s first sub-national transport body in April 2018, bringing together the north’s 20 local and combined authorities, as well as business leaders, to speak with one voice on the transport infrastructure investment needed to boost the area’s economy.

"We will continue to make the case for the further substantial investment needed to fully deliver this crucial project," said Mr White. “We also welcome the announcement of a Northern Transport Acceleration Council and a Department of Transport North; it is important that Transport for the North, reflecting the voice of the 15 million people in the north, and the new organisations work in partnership to build back better and level up.

“We will work with the Government and these new structures to promote faster decisions and speedier investment into the north.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the latest announcement proves the Government is “getting on” with the Northern Powerhouse. He described the announcement as “very significant” and said: “People have heard about the Northern Powerhouse for a long time, but here we are actually getting on and doing it.

“That’s obviously good news. These are improvements which will be delivered in the timescale of this Parliament. That means that people’s journeys will become easier once we’ve got those things done.”

The Transport Secretary, who is also the Northern Powerhouse minister, will lead a new body designed to speed up transport investment in the region.