Metro Chairman Cllr James Lewis has welcomed an announcement from the Department for Transport of additional funding for rail projects in the north of England.

"Metro has for a long time been calling for greater investment in transport in Yorkshire, and I'm pleased that today's announcements will go some way to meeting our needs.

"We have always said that the £560m Northern Hub proposals should be funded in their entirety to unlock the potential for growth across the north of England and the £130m of funding, on top of the north trans-Pennine electrification and Ordsall Curve schemes already agreed, will help push the proposals forward.

"The Northern Hub also underpins the Yorkshire Rail Network Study, which identifies the potential to bring up to £12bn of economic benefits to our region.

"By improving journey times along the Calder Valley, people and businesses along the route - which runs through Bradford and Halifax - will benefit from increased employment options in West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, as will leisure visitors to the Pennine tourist areas.

"I also welcome the announcement from the Department for Communities and Local Government of its intention to work with Metro and other Passenger Transport Executives on greater devolution of powers and transport funding, including on future rail franchises, so that our region's Council Tax-payers can benefit from more local decision making."