Starmer’s £1 Billion Transport Bombshell: Will the North Finally Get What It Deserves?

Keir Starmer has promised that Northern England will no longer be “held to ransom” by outdated and unreliable transport networks, pledging billions in funding to finally start fixing the mess.

The Prime Minister announced a major cash injection aimed at reviving the region’s neglected rail, bus, and road systems — something that’s long overdue in the eyes of many Northern commuters. In total, £415 million is being pumped into improving rail services connecting Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York — an area plagued by delays, overcrowded trains, and ageing infrastructure, reported Sky News.

It’s part of the long-delayed TransPennine Route Upgrade, which has been talked about for years but has seen painfully slow progress. Alongside this, more than £1 billion will be handed to local leaders to take the lead on wider transport improvements — including £270 million earmarked for upgrading bus services and £330 million to fix crumbling roads.

Starmer, who’s heading to a factory in the North on Friday to rally support, is also urging local leaders to get cracking on big-ticket projects like a proper mass transit system for West Yorkshire, a new station in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, and a long-awaited overhaul of Bury Interchange.

“The North is home to a wealth of talent and ingenuity,” he said. “But for too long, it has been held to ransom by a Victorian-era transport system which has stifled its potential. I lived in Leeds for years, I get that this has real-world impacts – missed appointments, children late to school, work meetings rescheduled – all leading to insecurity and instability for working people.”

His message was clear: the days of dithering are over. “My Government won’t stand by and watch,” he said. “We are rolling up our sleeves, and today’s down payment for growth is a vote of confidence in the North’s world-beating industries”, reported GOV.UK.

He gave a shout-out to local sectors he believes have been unfairly held back: “The film studios in Bradford, life sciences in Liverpool, the fintech industry in Leeds – it is time they had a government on their side to get the North motoring again.”

Starmer insists this is the start of real change, not just more empty promises. “After years of false promises and under-delivery, this Government is delivering real change for the North. We are spending double as much on local transport in the North than the South.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves backed him up, calling reliable transport a must-have for growth. “The transport system outside of London and the South East has been plagued by delays and cancellations, frustrated by strikes and failing infrastructure because upgrades that were promised were never delivered.”

Not everyone’s impressed though. The Conservatives have accused Labour of simply rehashing old plans. Shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon warned Labour’s rail reforms would give unions too much power and lead to “chaos, confusion, and cancellations.” But for many in the North, the only thing that matters now is whether these promises finally turn into results.