Rail industry insiders believe Downing Street left the announcement out of Mr Johnson’s policy-light speech to avoid starting a row with northern leaders and undermining his levelling-up message while he was still in Manchester. The project was first announced when George Osborne was chancellor but nearly half a decade later no concrete plans have been published.
The prime minister was widely expected to unveil details of the transport upgrades in his speech to Tory conference, but raised eyebrows when Northern Powerhouse Rail only got a passing mention. Another source said: “Boris wants to build everything, but Treasury is putting the brakes on.” The announcements are due in the government’s Integrated Rail Plan, which is expected in the next two weeks, before Rishi Sunak’s autumn spending statement. As well as limiting links between the Midlands and Yorkshire, the mothballing of the eastern leg will make it impossible to deliver the entire programme of local railway upgrades for the Midlands drawn up by local leaders, many of which relied on the line being built.
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