Boris Johnson’s rail plan: what’s in it and what was promised

Ministers say the £96bn integrated rail plan published on Thursday will deliver improvements quicker than original plans for the HS2 eastern leg and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

In a foreword to the plan, the prime minister, Boris Johnson, said it been “clear that the plans – first drawn up 11 years ago – had to change”, while Covid had “altered some of the assumptions on which these schemes were designed”.

But critics in the north and Midlands say it is a “rail betrayal” and a watered down version of what was promised.

These are the key changes:

HS2

The plan: The high-speed line heading north-west will be built but the eastern leg from Birmingham to Sheffield and Leeds has been scrapped beyond the east Midlands. A brand new hub station at Toton, outside Nottingham, will also not be built for HS2, but will be partially developed for local services. HS2 trains will continue on existing lines into Nottingham and Derby.

What was promised: Originally, a full Y-shaped network linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. Preliminary work on the eastern leg was paused after the Oakervee review.

Northern Powerhouse Rail

The plan: Upgrades to the existing TransPennine line – much of which was separately promised to be delivered as part of a programme of improvements by Network Rail under Chris Grayling. It will bring full electrification and some new track. A new section of high-speed track will link Warrington and Marsden to enable faster east-west connections.

Bradford-Leeds links are to be electrified and improved. Leeds is to get a new urban transit system.

What was promised: A high-speed line linking Manchester and Leeds, at the heart of plans drawn up by northern leaders and transport authorities for improved east-west connections across the region. Northern planners said the line should go through under-served Bradford.

Related: ‘Always neglected’: Bradford braced for bad news in rail plan

Electrification and upgrades

The plan: The Midlands mainline, linking London and Sheffield, will be electrified in full and more work will be done to improve speed and capacity on the east coast line.

What was promised: The Midlands mainline electrification was in progress but stopped in 2017. East coast upgrade work is in long-term progress and not yet clear if it is new money and additional projects.

Integrated and contactless ticketing

The plan: Funding of £360m to introduce London-style contactless ticketing and integrated fares, linking some bus and tram networks.

What was promised: Reform of ticketing to improve journeys and connections has been long sought by regional transport authorities and agreed in principle, but not delivered, by ministers.