Northern Powerhouse Rail
Published on:Northern Powerhouse Rail’s success is dependent on better cross-government working and stronger ties to the government’s economic strategy.
Northern Powerhouse Rail’s success is dependent on better cross-government working and stronger ties to the government’s economic strategy.
Government needs to ensure its growth plans for Cambridge are aligned with its £6-7bn investment in a new regional railway (East West Rail, Oxford to Cambridge), so it can maximise the economic benefits of the line, a new report by the National Audit Office says.
The reforms set out in government’s rail transformation plans are facing delays, and there remain long-standing issues with the rail sector that need to be addressed, such as its financial sustainability and service to passengers.
Government must reset the HS2 programme successfully to avoid repeating past failures and to maximise value for money.
The government should use the two-year pause on new construction work at HS2 Euston to develop a design that is affordable, deliverable and value for money, according to a new National Audit Office report.
This report makes recommendations for Crossrail Ltd and the programme sponsors as Crossrail nears completion.
This report reviews the progress the Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd have made implementing the NAO’s recommendations.
This study will assess whether the Department and Network Rail’s are in a position to deliver the Transpennine Route Upgrade successfully.
This overview sets out the cost of running the rail system in England and the challenges and opportunities facing government.
In 2024-25, the Department for Transport’s net spend was £41.3 billion. Our overview provides insight on where this money was spent.
This investigation examines the government’s 2025 intervention in British Steel’s Scunthorpe site, led by DBT.
The C&AG has issued a clean audit opinion, providing assurance to Parliament on the Department for Transport’s 2024-25 financial statements.
A new NAO report examines if the Department for Transport has delivered value for money from its support to local bus services outside of London.
This examines the causes of poor performance on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern network since the franchise began in September 2014, the effects on passenger services, financial outcomes for the operator and the Department, and the Department’s handling of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise.
This investigation sets out the decision-making process, leading to the July 2017 announcement of the cancellation of three rail electrification projects: the Midland Main Line north of Kettering (to Nottingham and Sheffield); the Great Western Main Line between Cardiff and Swansea; and the Lakes Line between Oxenholme and Windermere.
In May 2012, the Department of Transport expected the tram-train scheme to be completed by Dec 2015. It is now expected to be completed in May 2018.
The management of rail franchising has improved since 2012 however significant risks remain to achieving value for money as the programme develops.
This report examines how effectively National Highways and DfT are managing risks to value for money across the portfolio of road enhancement projects.
The NAO is publishing a suite of short guides relating to each government department and some cross-government issues, to assist House of Commons Select Committees.
Northern Powerhouse Rail’s success is dependent on better cross-government working and stronger ties to the government’s economic strategy.