Steve Rotheram and Joe Anderson have a simple message for central government as they travel to Newcastle for the inaugural Convention of the North: It is time to make ‘Crossrail for the North’ a reality.

The government’s flagship Northern Powerhouse Rail project, dubbed Crossrail for the North, is one of the topics for discussion as business and elected leaders come together in Newcastle to create a single voice for the North of England.

Ahead of the Convention, Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“The UK is the most politically centralised and economically imbalanced country in the western world. Northern leaders coming together through the Convention of the North give us a powerful voice with which to make the argument for more powers and funding to achieve our economic potential.

“Alongside Joe Anderson, I will be vigorously lobbying government to commit to supporting the whole of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project, including a twin-track rail link from Liverpool to Manchester, linking into HS2, as well as a brand new station in Liverpool City Centre.”

Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, added:

“Increased investment in transport infrastructure is one of the top priorities for our city and it’s vital that central government commit to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail in its entirety, starting with a new rail link between Liverpool and Manchester.

Northern Powerhouse Rail would hugely improve connectivity across the North, expanding freight and passenger capacity, as well as cutting journey times, which will boost not just our economy but that of the whole of the North of England.”