DfT says rail benefits to come 10 years early amid fury over cuts to HS2

Government vows faster train journeys to be delivered ahead of expected decision to axe key projects

No 10 has said its downgraded rail plan will bring faster connections a decade earlier, amid fury in northern England and the Midlands over the scrapping of both the eastern leg of the high-speed HS2 and a promised new fast line from Manchester to Leeds.

The long-delayed integrated rail plan (IRP), being published later on Thursday, is expected to confirm the axing of key schemes to save billions of pounds, after repeated pledges from Boris Johnson and others to level up" by building new high-speed lines between northern cities.