Labour revives Northern Powerhouse Rail project with pledge of £45bn funds

Plan will start with TransPennine upgrade with new line connecting Liverpool and Manchester in second phase

Long-awaited plans for better railways across the north of England have been given government backing with an undertaking to reverse years of chronic underinvestment" by spending up to 45bn building Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Just over 1bn has been allocated to work up a detailed three-stage plan to connect cities from Liverpool to Newcastle, which could fulfil most of the demands of northern leaders, in a series of long-term projects.