Metro Chairman Councillor Ryk Downes has welcomed the announcement by the Chancellor in today's budget that improvements to trans-Pennine rail links will go ahead.

"Improving rail service linking Leeds and Huddersfield with Manchester and Liverpool is key to making the route a real alternative to the M62," he said.

Impact on jobs

Cllr Downes also said he was pleased that Mr Osborne had announced that priority would be given to capital projects that provide a 'significant economic return to the country' and that a Regional Growth Fund to finance regional capital projects 'that have the greatest impact on innovation and jobs'.

"The Department for Transport has already acknowledged the value-for-money benefits that the planned NGT trolleybus network would achieve, including the creation of 4,000 long-term jobs, so I can't see how the Government would not give it the go-ahead after its spending review," he said.

Value for money

The new southern entrance to Leeds Station had also met Department for Transport requirements, Cllr Downes continued, and a £4m private sector contribution to the cost of building vital new stations at Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge represented extremely good value for money.

"I hope that the Government will be as good as its word and give us the opportunity to progress these important schemes which are designed to help the region and the country grow the way out of the recession in exactly the way the Chancellor has outlined in his budget."

"I look forward to meeting with Ministers to remind them of the benefits of our proposals so that we can get them moving as soon as possible."