LORD BLUNKETT TO CHAIR WHITE ROSE RAIL BOARD, PUTTING YORKSHIRE AT FRONT OF THE QUEUE FOR NORTHERN POWERHOUSE RAIL

Published 18 June 2026 at 1:21pm

Leaders from across Yorkshire and the national rail sector met today (Friday 12 June) for the inaugural meeting of the White Rose Rail Board, chaired by Lord Blunkett, signalling a major step forward in positioning Yorkshire at the forefront of delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and transforming connectivity across the North.

The Board – bringing together the Mayors of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire, alongside the Department for Transport, Treasury, Network Rail and industry partners – will turn shared ambition into delivery, building on the January 2026 agreement to work in partnership on Phase 1 of NPR. 

Lord Blunkett has been appointed Chair, bringing expertise and independent leadership to help shape a long-term plan to modernise Yorkshire’s rail network. Building on the Yorkshire Plan for Rail that he authored last year, Lord Blunkett will provide clear, joined-up leadership to drive decisions on scope, development and delivery.

The meeting comes as the Government commits up to £45 billion to NPR, improving connections across northern towns and cities. Yorkshire is at the heart of Phase 1 – and already moving at pace.

Early investment will focus on electrification and upgrades between Sheffield and Leeds, supporting up to four fast trains an hour and significantly improving reliability and capacity on this key route. Increasing capacity at Sheffield station will enable longer trains, more direct services and stronger connections across the region.

In South Yorkshire, schemes like Rotherham Gateway show how better rail can unlock regeneration, new homes and jobs, alongside potential expansion of tram-train to strengthen local links.

Upgrades to York station will also unlock faster, more reliable ‘turn up and go’ services across the North, improving connections to Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool and Bradford while supporting the visitor economy and wider region.

In West Yorkshire, electrification and upgrades will support more frequent and faster journeys linking Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and York. Capacity upgrades at Leeds will mean more trains can run to and from the station. In addition, plans for a new Bradford station will support regeneration of the city centre and enable faster and more frequent services across to Manchester.     

Lord Blunkett said:

“Following the signing of the White Rose Agreement in the spring of last year, the development of the Rail Plan for Yorkshire and the government announcement about the programme of investment for Northern Powerhouse Rail, I'm really pleased to be re-engaging with the three elected mayors for South, West and North Yorkshire.

“Having chaired the development of the plan submitted to government a year ago, I’m very pleased to have been asked to pick up again as Chair of the newly constituted Rail Board and to be working with Oliver Coppard, Tracy Brabin and David Skaith and their teams, together with representatives of the Treasury, Department for Transport and, crucially, the Rail Minister, Lord Hendy.

“Together with external partners, including Network Rail, I'm certain that we can develop a timetable and programme of delivery which will dramatically improve the connectivity, reliability and speed of travel for the people of Yorkshire and our connection across the Pennines, and to the north and south of our area. 

“Crucial milestones will now be developed, the allocation of resources firmed up, and there will be key alignment with the government's recently announced Growth Strategy for the North of England – together with the jobs, development of skills, partnership with business and local authorities which are so crucial to making delivery happen.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said:

“Yorkshire is at the front of the queue on Northern Powerhouse Rail. The first phase will deliver our ambition for 4 fast trains an hour between Sheffield and Leeds. Working together – with our fellow Mayors across Yorkshire and beyond, government and industry partners – we are building a rail network that works for us here in Yorkshire and sets us up for the future.”

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: 

“We made the case as Yorkshire Mayors that we needed better connectivity between our biggest cities – and the Government listened.

“Improvements to our rail network are desperately needed. Working together, we will turn the Northern Powerhouse Rail plans into action.

“The prize is a network fit for the 21st century – better-connections for our communities and businesses, new jobs and growth across our region and beyond.”

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: 

“Upgrading capacity at York station and Northern Powerhouse Rail puts York and North Yorkshire at the heart of a modern, fast, and reliable transport network.  

“This is a once-in-a-generation investment that will unlock better connections for everyone who lives, works, or visits our beautiful county. 

“We’re working as one team on the White Rose Rail Board, to ensure this connects our communities and delivers the world-class rail service the North deserves.” 

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “For too long the North has been held back by underinvestment and a rail network that isn’t good enough. Together with mayors and industry partners, this Government has a plan to turn this tide and finally give the region the transport links it needs and deserves.

“Our record £45billion investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail will deliver faster, more frequent services across the region to unlock jobs, economic growth, and homes - helping to add up to £40 billion a year to our economy.

“Alongside this, we are investing £11 billion in the TransPennine Route Upgrade to deliver faster journeys, increase capacity, and improve stations between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.”

With sustained partnership working, the White Rose Rail Board will play a key role in delivering faster, more reliable rail services, stronger connections between towns and cities, and a step-change in opportunity across Yorkshire and the North.