News: Journey times between York and major northern cities could be cut

York Press 16th January 2018  “PASSENGERS from York could see big cuts in their rail journey times to other northern cities under a new strategy unveiled today. At least 19 minutes would be sliced off the York to Manchester journey – and train capacity would also be expanded – through the construction of a new, additional line from Leeds to Manchester via Bradford, which could be used by York passengers heading, for example, to Manchester Airport. Further time savings would come from a proposed upgrade of the route between York and Leeds, which would make use of a section of the new HS2 line near Church Fenton.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, West Yorkshire Combined Authority chair, said she was pleased to see the plan accepted the case for a Northern Powerhouse line from Manchester to Leeds and York via a stop in Bradford and looked forward to working with TfN to develop those proposals further.

Cllr Ian Gillies, executive member for transport at City of York Council, welcomed the publication of the plan, as well as the move towards more local influence and control over the funding, which he said could give York the transport links it needed. He said the plans could be good for York’s long-held wishes to improve train connections across the north, adding: “I’ll take every opportunity to turn those plans into reality.”

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