A £9.4 billion package of improvements could help improve journey times for commuters in the Calendar region.

Leeds train station Credit: ITV Yorkshire

The Transport Minister Norman Baker has been in Leeds today to announce millions of pounds worth of improvements to train services. It is one of biggest programmes of rail investment in the country.

Harrogate & Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, has welcomed news of a £16billion investment in the railways across England and Wales announced today by the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Justine Greening MP.

Mr Jones, who is the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ms Greening said that the investment would bring growth and jobs to the north.

For the north of England the package includes:

  • Passenger capacity at Leeds station boosted by 5,100 to increase service into and out of Leeds especially at peak times.

  • £240 million investment in the East Coast Main Line service to improve the capacity of the line.

  • A new Electric Spine – a passenger and freight corridor linking the core centres of population and economic activity in the East and West Midlands and Yorkshire with the South of England, which includes electrifying the Midland Main Line.

  • £400 million for cities outside London, including completing the ‘Northern Hub ‘that will link key northern cities bringing clear benefits to Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester Leeds and Sheffield.

Prime Minister David Cameron and his Deputy Nick Clegg talk about Government's investment plan to create a "fast, modern, reliable railway". To watch the announcement click here.

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has responded to news that local rail line between Hull and Leeds will not benefit from rail electrification upgrade under plans announced by the Government.

Faster and more efficient rail links are an important part of Hull's economic regeneration and I'll be asking why this Government doesn't appear to recognise this.

– DIANA JOHNSON, HULL NORTH MP

Instead this Coalition Government is being short-sighted, yet again, about Hull and are failing to grasp an opportunity for supporting business regeneration in the Humber. Hull taxpayers and rail passengers will bear the costs of the improvements that will happen elsewhere in the country from 2014, without seeing electrification to upgrade our local lines.

– DIANA JOHNSON, HULL NORTH MP

Calendar reporter Paul Burland takes a look at exactly what the Government's announcement will mean for rail passengers in our region.