Reeves Pledges £3.6bn Yorkshire Trams, £3.5bn TransPennine Rail Upgrades

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled a £15 billion investment in transport, focusing heavily on northern England and regional rail upgrades as part of her spending review. Key allocations include £3.6 billion for local transport in Yorkshire and the Humber to support tram systems and bus services, alongside £3.5 billion for upgrades to the TransPennine route connecting Liverpool, Leeds, York, and Manchester. Reeves emphasized plans to advance Northern Powerhouse Rail, with particular attention on a new Manchester to Liverpool rail link, and announced £2.5 billion for the East-West Rail project connecting Oxford and Cambridge, boosting regional connectivity and economic development. The government also pledged continued funding for HS2 construction between London and Birmingham and affirmed a £750 million annual investment in bus services, including extending the £3 bus fare cap. While London received a four-year £2 billion funding settlement, Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed disappointment over the lack of commitment to the city's infrastructure plans. Overall, Reeves framed these investments as a long-term strategy to address historic underfunding and promote equitable growth across the UK beyond London.