Local MP Robert Largan has backed the announcement that the Government will provide £589 million to begin vital upgrades on the Transpennine main line, benefitting passengers and businesses in High Peak.

The line, which connects Leeds, Huddersfield, and Manchester, will bring significant improvements for passengers, while at the same time boosting local economies. 

The most congested section of the route will be doubled from two to four tracks, allowing fast trains to overtake slower ones, and improving journey times and reliability for passengers across the North. 

Most of the line will be electrified, and the Government will also consider full electrification, along with digital signalling and improved freight capacity as part of a new integrated rail plan to be published in December. 

These improvements will allow all-electric services between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, York, and Newcastle, bring longer and more frequent trains, and create significantly more local capacity along the line.

It comes as the Transport Secretary also announced the creation of a new Northern Transport Acceleration Council, which will ensure Northern leaders have a direct line to ministers, helping to cut red tape and improve services for passengers. 

The Council, which will be chaired by the Transport Secretary, will meet for the first time in September, and be made up of mayors and council leaders. 

Robert Largan MP commented: 

“For too long, transport in the North has been an afterthought. It is hugely welcome to have a government determined to turn this around.

“It’s brilliant to see significant investment and attention being plugged into transport in the North, which will cut journey times and improve services for passengers, but more has to be done. That’s why I’m campaigning to upgrade the Hope Valley line and get a railway station for Gamesley.”