£15 billion for transport outside of London

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a huge £15.6 billion package for trams, train and bus projects across the Midlands, the North, and the West Country.

This comes before the Spending Review next week, which will determine how much money each government department will receive over the next three to four years. The annoucement today (Wednesday 4th June) is a much welcome investment for transport links outside of London and South East, as other areas often get overlooked and receive less invesmtent than the capital.

This funding is more than double the real-terms increase in capital spending on local transport and city regions by 2029-30 compared with 2024-5, with five-year settlements ensuring that mayors and local leaders are able to commit to delivering large-scale projects.

As part of the package, Greater Manchester will receive £2.5 billion to extend its tram network to Stockport and add stops in Bury, Manchester, and Oldham. The West Midlands will also be able to develop its tram network further, with £2.4 billion being awarded to bring services from Birmingham city centre to the new sports quarter.

£2.1 billion will go towards building a West Yorkshire Mass Transit programme by 2028, with new bus stations to be built in Wakefield and Bradford.

South Yorkshire will receive £1.5 billion to renew its trams, alongside boosting bus services across Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham by 2027.

Liverpool will be allocated £1.6 billion, which will go towards faster connections to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Everton stadium and Anfield, alongside a new bus fleet in St Helens and Wirral for next year.

The North East will gain £1.8 billion to extend the Newcastle to Sunderland Metro via Washington, and the West of England will receive £800 million to improve rail infrastructure, increase the frequency of trains between the Brabazon industrial estate in Bristol and the city centre, as well as developing mass transit between Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset.

£1 billion will be earmarked for the Tees Valley, where projects include a £60 million platform extension programme for Middlesborough station, and £2 billion to improve rail, bus, and road connections between Derby and Nottingham in the East Midlands.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands--opening up access to job, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change.

"For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6 billion of government invesetment, we're giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain's renewal so you and your family are better off."