Mayor of West Yorkshire calls rail plans a 'betrayal' of levelling up

The mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, has said that the decision to scrap the eastern leg of HS2 to Leeds is a "betrayal" of levelling up.

Ms Brabin was speaking at a conference of northern leaders in Leeds, where they are discussing rail plans outlined by the government last week.

The government confirmed last week that they would also be scrapping plans for a new high-speed rail line between Leeds and Manchester that would have included Bradford.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said an investment of £96 billion will help improve services in the Midlands and northern England ten years sooner than if ministers had pressed ahead with earlier plans.

And instead of the HS2 route reaching Leeds, there will be a new Birmingham to East Midlands Parkway line, while high-speed trains will still reach Leeds but on slower lines.

There will also be a new line connecting Warrington, Manchester and western Yorkshire.

Mr Shapps insisted last week that the revised plan is "slashing journey times across the north".

Ms Brabin said that the plans do "not feel fair and it doesn't feel transparent or clear" and that the plan would be building on victorian infrastructure and was "not fit for purpose" in the 21st century.

She said: "We know as a region how important Northern Powerhouse Rail is to us, it is not just about connecting cities it is about connecting communities.

"I would just like to reiterate how angry the people of West Yorkshire were when this was announced and how betrayed the people of Bradford feel in particular."

She has said that she is happy to work with the government to change the plans and has called on MPs from West Yorkshire to stand together on the matter.

She also said that more needs to be done on how to connect Leeds and Sheffield.

The revised Integrated Rail Plan will see high-speed trains travel on a slower track to Sheffield, meaning HS2 trains would still reach Yorkshire but the high-speed line itself will not.