Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the economic impact of the Integrated Rail Plan on connectivity between Sheffield (a) Leeds and (b) Manchester.
In developing the Integrated Rail Pan, Ministers considered the economic impacts of the proposed schemes as well as cost and affordability on the North and Midlands, including Sheffield. By improving regional connectivity, the Integrated Rail Plan will unify labour markets, so that people can access a much wider range of jobs; bring businesses closer together; and improve access to key international gateways and markets so they become even more attractive locations for business investment.
The IRP sets out that planned upgrades are being completed on the Hope Valley Line between Manchester and Sheffield, and connections between Sheffield and Leeds will be further considered as part of the work looking at how best to take HS2 trains to Leeds.