Civils contractors today welcomed news that the Government has announced an extra £317 million investment into the Transpennine route upgrade to deliver improved rail services across the north of England.
New stations are set to open in Leeds and the south-west, while £69 million of improvements will increase freight capacity between the Port of Southampton and the Midlands.
£15 million from the New Stations Fund will be used to build new stations at Marsh Barton in Exeter, and White Rose and Thorpe Park in Leeds.
Commenting, Chief Executive of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Alasdair Reisner said: “Today’s announcement is good news for the rail sector, rail users, and for the wider economy.
“These schemes will create jobs and will deliver a much-needed boost to the economy, connecting businesses and communities and supporting greener travel.
“We hope that these projects will move forward to delivery without delay, so that our members can get spades in the ground and the benefits of this investment can be brought forward as speedily as possible.”
< ENDS >