Prime Minister commits to reopening the Don Valley Line
I’m delighted that the Prime Minister has today backed my plan to reopen the Don Valley Line between Stocksbridge and Sheffield, and committed to funding it as part of the new “Network North” project to improve transport connectivity. I started campaigning on this subject before I became an MP and have never stopped.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today announced plans to bring back passenger services on the Don Valley Line
Restoring passenger services on the existing passenger line will be transformative for communities along the route, significantly cutting journey times and reducing congestion.
Importantly, Network North will also see full electrification and more capacity on the line connecting Sheffield and Manchester, reducing travel time to just 42 minutes between the two cities.
Local residents will also welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement of extra money for our bus service and an extension of the Government’s funding for the £2 bus fare cap, which had been due to cease from the end of October.
Post pandemic, what people want from our transport network has changed dramatically, and so I welcome the decision to redirect money from HS2 to local transport improvements that will make a real difference to people and businesses across the North.
Far more people will benefit from this plan, and will do so sooner, through earlier investment in upgrades and transport services like local bus and rail services.
This is the right decision for people across my constituency and South Yorkshire as a whole.
Transport investment announced for Yorkshire and the Humber today
Communities in towns, cities and rural areas will see improved transport infrastructure far sooner through £19.8 billion reinvested in the North, amongst other things, including:
- Reopening of the Don Valley Line
- £3 billion for upgraded and electrified lines between Manchester and Sheffield, Sheffield and Leeds, Sheffield and Hull, and Hull-Leeds.
- £2 billion for a new station at Bradford and a new connection to Manchester;
- £2.5 billion to deliver a new mass transit system in West Yorkshire;
- Nearly £4 billion more funding for local transport in the North’s six city regions.
- A new £2.5 billion fund for local transport across all areas in the North outside the six city regions – smaller cities, counties, towns and countryside.
- A new £3.3 billion fund for road resurfacing.
- Landmark investments in roads, reopened train lines and new stations;
We will also invest a further £12 billion to better connect Manchester to Liverpool. This would allow the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail as previously planned, including high-speed lines. But we will work with local leaders to agree whether they wish to suggest other ways to achieve the objectives within that cost envelope.
