Political and business leaders from Leeds and Sheffield are heading to Westminster to advocate for major rail investment between the two city regions.
Leeds City Council Leader Councillor James Lewis and Sheffield City Council Leader Councillor Tom Hunt will join West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard at an event in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Their message: the time has come for vastly improved rail services between Leeds and Sheffield, including critical upgrades to both cities’ main stations.
Backed by representatives from across the public and private sectors, the group will urge the government to commit to delivering rail improvements as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail initiative.
Currently, Leeds and Sheffield—two of the North’s economic powerhouses—are connected by just one fast train per hour. This limited service, reliant on outdated Victorian infrastructure, is stifling growth across the region.
Together, the two cities generate nearly £50 billion in GVA. Yet, according to recent research, the wider White Rose region could be missing out on up to £25 billion annually due to poor connectivity.
The leaders are calling for a clear timetable and delivery plan for Northern Powerhouse Rail between Leeds and Sheffield, including:
- Four fast trains per hour between the two cities, aligning services with other major UK urban centres.
- Expanded capacity at Leeds City Station, transforming it into a central hub for onward travel and preparing it for the city’s future mass transit system.
- Upgrades to Sheffield Midland Station, including tram-train network expansion to free up mainline capacity.
Councillor James Lewis emphasised the economic potential of better connectivity:
“Our great and growing cities are home to internationally competitive businesses across a wide range of sectors, and we are achieving all this with poor rail connectivity between us. Yet these improvements between our two cities will drive growth not just in Leeds and Sheffield but across Yorkshire and the UK.
“Improved rail connectivity will also benefit surrounding towns and communities, bringing people within easier reach of jobs and opportunities, and enabling delivery of more new homes, including affordable housing. With this commitment and certainty, we can deliver these improvements now and bring better growth across Yorkshire and the wider UK economy within the decade.”
Councillor Tom Hunt highlighted the strategic importance of the upcoming Northern Powerhouse Rail announcement:
“The upcoming Northern Powerhouse announcement is a key moment to invest in better Sheffield-Leeds connectivity and make a down payment on the future productivity growth it will bring.
“Sheffield is a national leader in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and engineering. To grow our economy, we need expanded capacity at Sheffield Midland Station, which includes expanding our tram-train network to free up more capacity on the main line.
“Certainty from the government on rail connections between Sheffield and Leeds is the signal investors are waiting for. Let’s end the delay, add more fast trains and get going.”
These proposals are part of Yorkshire’s Plan for Rail, launched earlier this year by three of the region’s mayors.
Mayor Tracy Brabin said:
"We deserve far better than the creaking and unreliable rail network we currently have serving the two great cities of Leeds and Sheffield.
"That is why we're calling for faster services and investment in our stations to address capacity and connectivity issues which are holding the economy back.
"We will continue to make the case for fairer rail investment for Yorkshire so that passengers get the services they deserve and we can achieve our ambitious plans for the region."
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard added:
“Sheffield is the largest city in the UK without electrified rail, and our station will be at capacity by December. Delivering four fast trains an hour to Leeds as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail will help to unlock over a million extra journeys a year, boosting jobs, growth, and opportunity across the whole of Yorkshire.
“Improving links between Sheffield and Leeds will also support the proposed Rotherham Gateway station, offering a once-in-a-generation opportunity to connect the UK’s first Investment Zone and Innovation Spine - right in the heart of South Yorkshire - to the wider Northern economy.
“After decades of under-investment, it’s time we got a fair deal. Investment in rail isn’t just about faster trains, it’s about tackling the big challenges we face and helping Yorkshire move forward.”
Image credits: Leeds City Council & iStock
