Transport for the North boss calls for debate on raising cost of driving

Martin Tugwell says UK government must look at whether to make car use pricier and public transport cheaper

There needs to be an honest conversation" about making driving more expensive in order to subsidise public transport, according to the new head of the north of England's strategic transport body.

Martin Tugwell, who took over as chief executive of Transport for the North (TfN) earlier this month, is trying to persuade the government to pay at least 30bn to build a transpennine rail line called Northern Powerhouse Rail, as well as HS2 spurs to Manchester and Leeds.