Chambers Welcome Northern Powerhouse Rail Ambition

14th January 2026

Reacting to the announcement on Northern Powerhouse Rail, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said:

“For far too long the North has been left to languish and missed out on the crucial investment in infrastructure needed to realise its economic potential. 

“If Northern Powerhouse Rail can be delivered in its entirety, on time and to budget, then it will have a transformational impact. 

“Businesses across the region, and beyond, will welcome the government’s commitment to making this happen and the substantial £45bn budget envelope that has been set. 

“But they will also be wary; with no current end date for the project or set timelines on delivery, it is vital that government fills in the blanks as soon as practicable. 

“Firms will want absolute certainty on the government’s capability to deliver this project before they will fully invest in the future opportunities it could bring.” 

John McCabe, Chief Executive of North East Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Northern Powerhouse Rail represents a major opportunity for the North, and today’s announcement is a significant step forward that the Chamber has long called for. The focus now must be on pace. Businesses will judge this by how quickly plans become projects, and projects become jobs, with clear progress and momentum that shows this is moving from promise to reality.  

“For the North East, the commitment to taking forward development work on the Leamside Line is critical. It has the potential to support thousands of skilled jobs, strengthen our region’s connectivity and unlock major opportunities for investment and growth. This is the kind of decisive infrastructure investment that can genuinely unlock the North East economy.” 

James Mason, Chief Executive of West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce said:  

“Businesses in Yorkshire have long been stressing the importance of improved east- 

west connectivity for the north of England. 

“That Northern Powerhouse Rail is to finally be delivered is superb news for our members and one that promises to be a gamechanger, not just for the North of England, but for the country as a whole. 

“Businesses will now be eager to see a swift and positive delivery plan.” 

Subrahmaniam Krishnan-Harihara, Director of Business Policy and Research at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said: 

“Regardless of the specifics, the core economic case for Northern Powerhouse Rail remains unchanged: it is about bridging the 'mental distance' in the North of England. 

"To become a successful economic region that can contribute to rebalancing the UK economy, the cities in the North should function as a single, cohesive labour market. In the North of England, distances of 40 to 60 miles, such as between Manchester and Leeds or Leeds and Hull often feel like a barrier rather than a bridge. 

"Therefore, a high-speed east to west link becomes critical. It is not just about saving minutes in a journey timetable; it is about building new capacity and enabling psychological proximity thus transforming the North of England into a unified economic powerhouse where talent and investment can freely flow. And that is the standard by which any new proposal must be measured."