NORTHERN MPs, civic leaders and businesses are to say that a high-speed rail network could unlock a £100bn boost to the North’s economy.

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) is calling on the Government to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) at the same time as HS2, as a major step to narrowing the North-South divide. The NPP says this would open up larger potential markets for businesses, enhance leisure and social activities, transform international connectivity as well as create thousands of jobs, increase productivity and attract “significant overseas investment”.

Last month, Bradford was revealed as a stop on a new NPR rail network between Leeds and Manchester in Transport for the North’s draft Strategic Transport Plan.

The Northern Powerhouse All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) is due to meet this afternoon and will hear from Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council’s leader, about the impact the proposed high-speed networks will have on the city.

She said: “Supporters of the Next Stop Bradford campaign have made the case for why a new line between Manchester and Leeds will have the greatest benefit if it includes a city centre stop in Bradford. It is right that Bradford is now on the preferred route and that this route should be built sooner, rather than later, and will be most impactful if this is by when HS2 arrives in Yorkshire.”

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Cllr Hinchcliffe added: “At least £1.3bn of additional economic benefits will come from a Bradford city centre station and will be unlocked through the direct connections to Manchester in 20 minutes and Leeds in seven minutes, as well as dramatically-improved connections to cities like Sheffield, Hull, Newcastle, Sunderland, Darlington and Middlesbrough. It is vital that Northern Powerhouse Rail brings the maximum benefits for the North by putting the UK’s youngest city at the centre of an area which will see at least 1.3 million people within an hour of four major cities in the Northern Powerhouse.”

Lord Jim O’Neill, Northern Powerhouse Partnership vice-chair, added: “Getting Northern Powerhouse Rail delivered to the recommendations of Transport for the North is crucial for the success of the Northern Powerhouse.”