Lilian Greenwood MP, Labour’s Shadow Rail Minister, responding to the Government announcement on northern transport today, said:
“This is nothing more than smoke and mirrors from a Government that has broken its promises to the north time and time again.
"For all their talk of a ‘Northern Powerhouse’, under the Conservatives fares in the north have been hiked by up to 162 per cent, modern trains have been transferred to the south and pre-election pledges to electrify key lines have been cynically dropped.
"Instead of recycling old press releases, the Government should honour its commitments and get on with delivering electrification of the north TransPennine route and the Midland Main Line."