Lord Adonis: HS3 could be the rail revolution of the 21st century

During the 1800s, Manchester and Sheffield quadrupled while Bradford grew eightfold. High-speed rail could bring similar results for the north

A higher speed, higher frequency, higher capacity railway, supported by a better smarter motorway system is long overdue in the north of England. Transforming transportation between the great cities of the north is undeniably necessary. On capacity alone, existing infrastructure will simply fail if it is not drastically improved.

But there is a bigger prize in view: better connections across the north can help fire the local economy and make the region a powerhouse once again. Transport for the North, the new regional transport authority modelled on London's TfL, must now work with the government to ensure that real change is not just discussed, but delivered.

Related: George Osborne launches national infrastructure commission

Ultimately a better connected north will mean a more dynamic region and a stronger UK