Fury as Northern Powerhouse Rail plan looks likely to be downsized again

Simon Calder

Politicians and rail experts have reacted furiously to confirmation that much of the promised high-speed Northern Powerhouse Rail project across the Pennines is to be scrapped once again.

The 2019 Conservative manifesto pledged: “We will build Northern Powerhouse Rail between Leeds and Manchester and then focus on Liverpool, Tees Valley, Hull, Sheffield and Newcastle.”