News from Sheffield Labour

Angela Smith calls for rail improvements in the North

Labour MP and rail campaigner Angela Smith has today called for the government to fast track the full northern hub rail project.

In a debate today in parliament Angela Smith, Member of Parliament for Penistone & Stocksbridge, called on the government to bring forward planned improvements to the north’s rail network.

While the government has brought forward some aspects of the scheme to improve the north’s rail network many others aspects of the improvements are not planned to be completed for another 6 or 7 years.

Already it is estimated congestion around Manchester is costing business money. The £500m improvements called for is estimated to create around 30,000 jobs and have direct economic benefit of £4bn to the North’s economy.

Also for Sheffield it would allow for 2 extra trains to run between Sheffield and Manchester and for faster trains more generally.

Commenting Angela said; “The northern hub project is the North’s equivalent to London’s Crossrail. A completed northern hub project will ease congestion around Manchester helping improve rail traffic throughout the North.

“Already the congestion around Manchester is curtailing economic activity and costing business money. For the £500m cost of the improvements the returns are great.

“However, the government needs to listen and bring forward these works. They are desperately needed now, If they don’t it will cost the North dear as it tries to compete with the south east of the country.”

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