Political and business leaders from Leeds and Sheffield are joining forces to push for “transformational rail investment” linking Yorkshire’s two largest cities.
Leeds City Council leader Councillor James Lewis and Sheffield City Council leader Councillor Tom Hunt will travel to Westminster this week with West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, urging the government to back a long-awaited upgrade to the Leeds–Sheffield rail line.
The delegation will speak at an event in the House of Commons on Wednesday (22 October), calling for more frequent and reliable rail services between the two city regions as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme.
Currently, Leeds and Sheffield, two of the North’s key economic centres, are connected by just one fast train an hour. Both cities say this outdated, Victorian-era infrastructure is holding back jobs, investment and productivity across Yorkshire.
Together, Leeds and Sheffield generate almost £50 billion in GVA (gross value added) each year, but new research suggests poor connectivity could be costing the wider White Rose region up to £25 billion annually.
The councils and mayors are calling for the government to:
– Introduce four fast trains an hour between Sheffield and Leeds, matching the service frequency of other major UK cities.
– Invest in Leeds City Station to improve capacity, support the new mass transit system, and make it a modern hub for onward travel.
– Upgrade Sheffield Midland Station and expand the tram-train network to relieve pressure on mainline services.
Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Our great and growing cities are home to internationally competitive businesses, yet we’re achieving this with poor rail connectivity between us. Improvements between Leeds and Sheffield will not only drive growth in both cities but across Yorkshire and the UK.”
He added that better rail links would “bring people closer to jobs and opportunities” and help unlock more affordable housing.
Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “The upcoming Northern Powerhouse announcement is a key moment to invest in better Sheffield–Leeds connectivity and make a downpayment on future productivity growth. Sheffield is a national leader in advanced manufacturing and clean energy, but to grow, we need expanded capacity and certainty from government.”
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “We deserve far better than the creaking and unreliable rail network we currently have. Faster trains and improved stations are essential to unlock Yorkshire’s economic potential.”
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard added: “Sheffield is the largest city in the UK without electrified rail. Four fast trains an hour would unlock over a million extra journeys each year and create new opportunities across Yorkshire. After decades of underinvestment, it’s time for a fair deal.”
The cities’ proposals are part of Yorkshire’s Plan for Rail, launched earlier this year by the region’s mayors to demand fairer rail funding and modern, reliable infrastructure.
