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Road and rail overhaul vital to north of England - Clegg Northern commuters are in 'cattle trucks', says Clegg
(about 11 hours later)
Commuters in the north of England are using "decrepit" trains that would be unacceptable in London, Nick Clegg is to claim as he pushes for more investment in rail and road links. Commuters in the north of England are travelling in "cattle trucks that would be deemed unfit in other parts of the country", Nick Clegg has told the BBC.
Northern cities still lack some "basic" transport infrastructure, Mr Clegg will tell a conference in Leeds. The deputy prime minister is hosting a summit calling for investment in rail and road links in the north.
The deputy prime minister will say he wants funds for immediate improvements in December's Autumn Statement. He also told the BBC a right-wing "lurch" by the Conservatives was to blame for "tensions" in the coalition.
The Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems all back more Northern investment. The Conservatives and Labour also back long-term investment in transport infrastructure in the north.
Prime Minister David Cameron has thrown his weight behind a new east-west rail line - dubbed HS3 - which rail experts say could cut journey times between Manchester and Leeds from 48 to 26 minutes. Mr Clegg said the trains between cities such as Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield were a constant source of complaint and that they were holding the economy of the region back.
And Labour leader Ed Miliband has promised that a Labour government would grant new powers to cities and city regions to improve bus services across England, including the scope to set fares and operate new services. "There are thousands boarding these so-called 'pacer' trains. There is nothing pacy about them at all. They are cattle trucks on wheels.
Speaking at a summit of business leaders and local residents, Mr Clegg will add his voice to those arguing that greater connectivity is key to building the north of England into an economic "powerhouse". "I have, for the last four-and-a-half years, been day-in, day-out pursuing new powers to the north on an unprecedented scale," he said.
Specifically, he will call for: Mr Clegg made clear he was speaking as the host of a summit of Northern business leaders, rather than announcing government policy.
"Ancient rolling stock and lines that have not been upgraded in 30 years are not fit for a 21st century metropolis," he will say. But he said that he had been making his case within government and hinted that an announcement could be expected in the chancellor's Autumn Statement later this month.
"Decrepit trains such as the Pacers, which are literally ancient buses on rails, are not a fair way for people in the North to get to and from work. They would not be deemed acceptable on London commuter lines, and they are not acceptable in the North." Specifically, Mr Clegg is calling for:
Mr Clegg will say cross-Pennine rail routes between major conurbations in the north of England, used by 25 million people a year, need upgrading now to reduce journey times and cut overcrowding. Mr Clegg says cross-Pennine rail routes between major towns and cities in the north of England, used by 25 million people a year, need upgrading now to reduce journey times and cut overcrowding.
He will also suggest the North has been the poor relation in recent years in terms of transport spending. He denied that he was electioneering to win votes in his Sheffield constituency, insisting he had been campaigning on the issue for years.
"London and the South East has had billions of transport investment over recent years from HS1 to Crossrail to the Northern Line extension," he will say. When asked about tensions in the coalition after the resignation of Lib Dem minister, Norman Baker, he said there were "pinch points", accusing the Conservatives of a "right-wing sort of lurch".
"The perfectly reasonable requests I have been hearing... are basics that are needed if we are to create a true economic hub in the north of England. "Whatever the changes the Conservative Party has embarked upon as they chase UKIP to the right, whatever they decide to do, we will anchor this government in the centre ground and we will see the parliament through until May of next year," he said.
"The roads and railway lines connecting our great northern cities have seen improvements in recent years, but I want more, much more."
"As we negotiate over what gets government funding in the Autumn Statement, one of my key priorities will be to change that. We need to get this started as soon as possible."