Plans to revive Northern Powerhouse Rail will be unveiled in the coming weeks, Government sources have said amid concerns over delays to the project.
The upcoming announcement is expected to set out the scope and funding for the scheme aimed at cutting travel time between cities in northern England.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in June that plans for the project would be published within weeks, but no details have emerged to date.
On Wednesday, a Government source said ministers were “taking time to get this right” and determined to avoid repeating the previous Tory administration’s “failures over HS2”.
“The Government remains fully committed to NPR (Northern Powerhouse Rail),” they said.
“We are determined to learn from the mistakes of the past and not repeat the previous government’s failures over HS2 and the botched Network North plan.
“That’s why we’re taking our time to get this right. We will set out our plans in the coming weeks.”
The Northern Powerhouse project was first proposed by former Tory chancellor George Osborne in 2014 before being shelved under Boris Johnson’s administration.
Its aim was to boost economic growth in northern England, including through improved rail services between Liverpool and Leeds, which often suffer delays and cancellations.
When former prime minister Rishi Sunak scrapped HS2 north of Birmingham, some £12 billion of its budget was set aside to improve rail journeys between Manchester and Liverpool as part of NPR.
Crewe and Nantwich Labour MP Connor Naismith urged the Government to “be bold” and make the issue a clear dividing line with Reform UK, which has pledged to axe NPR.
He told the PA news agency that any further delays would be “very disappointing” after the BBC reported that plans had been pushed back amid concerns over long-term costs.
“For too long it has felt as though northern infrastructure projects are subjected to a level of scrutiny and concern over ‘value for money’ that simply isn’t the case in London and the South East,” he said.
“We must be the party that will unleash economic growth and investment for my constituents, rather than the backward looking, London-centric Reform, who represent our past, not our future.”
Opposition critics urged ministers to “get on with the job” and accused Labour of failing to prioritise passengers.
A Conservative spokesman said: “Yet again it’s more big talk, and no real plans from this Labour government.
“By bowing down to their union paymasters with inflation busting pay rises Labour sent the signal that their donors come first, and passengers second – and the fiasco of nationalisation has been proof of that.”
Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Paul Kohler said: “Northern Powerhouse Rail is essential for improving transport across the North of England and unlocking growth – this setback delays the vital boost to northern communities that they have been promised.
“The Government must move quickly to resolve these issues, stop the delays and get on with the job. At the moment, this project is just as plagued by delays as actual trains.”
The Treasury has been approached for comment.
