Northern business leaders respond to Northern Powerhouse Rail announcement

The government has today confirmed Northern Powerhouse Rail as a central part of its growth plan for the North, setting out a phased programme of investment to improve rail connectivity between the region’s major towns and cities.

The announcement includes £1.1bn of development funding over the current Spending Review period and confirms a clear sequence for delivery. Early phases will focus on improved connections between Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, alongside development work on the Leamside Line to ensure services reach Newcastle. This will be followed by a new route between Liverpool and Manchester via Warrington and Manchester Airport, before further improvements to trans-Pennine links across the network.

Crucially, the government has positioned Northern Powerhouse Rail not as a standalone transport scheme, but as the backbone of a wider Northern Growth Corridor, explicitly linking improved connectivity to higher productivity, housing delivery, job creation and global competitiveness.

Business leaders from across the North have welcomed the announcement, highlighting the role that better, more reliable transport plays in unlocking the region’s economic potential.

Rami Baitiéh, CEO of Morrisons, said:

“As well as having stores and colleagues across the country, we have a strong and longstanding base in Bradford. The news that work on Bradford station is being taken forwards in order to connect that city better not only to other key cities in Yorkshire but also to Manchester, Manchester Airport and the wider North West is going to be hugely beneficial for businesses and the local economy.”

Jerome Frost OBE, CEO of Arup, said:

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail as a truly transformational moment for the North of England. This infrastructure will help unlock the region’s vast economic potential, which will be felt positively across the UK.

“At Arup, we’re ready to help turn this vision into reality. Our analysis shows that properly delivered, NPR will do far more than move people faster between cities. It will generate tens of billions in economic benefits and provide the sustainable transport choices essential for future communities.

“The region deserves transport infrastructure that matches its ambitions. Today’s announcement represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a transport system that the North of England needs to turbo-charge economic growth.”

Ken O’Toole, CEO of Manchester Airports Group (MAG), said:

“This is a welcome and long overdue step towards the creation of a highly productive and internationally competitive Northern growth corridor.

“By placing Manchester Airport at the heart of a full Northern Powerhouse Rail network, people and businesses across the region will have the direct access they deserve to the world.

“That will help high-value industries to thrive and attract investors and visitors to all parts of the North – maximising the region’s contribution to national growth.

“The project will deliver the public investment needed to ensure the North benefits fully from MAG’s £1.3bn transformation of Manchester Airport. It will unlock the full capacity of Manchester’s existing two full-length runways – capacity that is available now.

“That is why we look forward to working with Government and regional partners on ways to deliver NPR at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Chris Oglesby, Chief Executive of Bruntwood and Bruntwood SciTech, commented:

“The Government’s commitment to working with local partners to deliver NPR is welcome. The combination of strong national commitment over the long term with mechanisms that support local decision making is an important step forward in ensuring that we finally have a transport system that is fit for the 21st century.

“For businesses, reliable connectivity is fundamental to a modern productive economy. It unlocks investment, attracts international business and supports growth.”