Metro has welcomed a report from the think tank Institute for Public Policy Research, (IPPR) which calls for substantial investment in Yorkshire's transport network.

Failure to invest in the region’s main rail links, in particular the Manchester to Hull and Leeds to Sheffield routes is likely to lead to increased congestion on road and rail and more air travel warns the IPPR in the report.

"The northern regions receive less public funding for transport per head than other regions and their roads are in worse overall condition than anywhere else in England," says the IPPR's chief economist Howard Reed.

In addition to “investment in the rail network, bus services and upgrades to the north's road network” Mr Reed called for reforms to governance arrangements and the control Metro and other Passenger Transport Executives have over local rail networks, highways and bus services.

“We have made no secret of the fact that we feel our region has suffered from a legacy of under-investment in transport, so we support the IPPR’s call for a greater share of Government investment” said Metro Director General Kieran Preston.

“And we believe measures contained in the Local Transport Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, are an opportunity to look at the powers we need to tackle the specific transport challenges in our area.”