Reeves Unveils £15.6bn Transport Investment Across North Midlands West

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce a £15.6 billion investment package aimed at upgrading public transport infrastructure across the North, Midlands, and West Country, breaking with traditional Treasury rules that have been criticized for favoring the South East. The funding will support tram, train, and bus projects in eight metro mayor regions, including major investments such as £2.5 billion for Greater Manchester to extend its Metrolink and add new stops, and £2.4 billion for the West Midlands to expand tram services to a new sports district. Additional allocations include £2.1 billion to initiate the West Yorkshire Mass Transit system and £1.5 billion to renew and improve South Yorkshire's tram and bus networks by 2027. Reeves will argue for a new economic model driven by investment across all regions to reduce reliance on a few prosperous areas and will introduce changes to the Treasury's Green Book rules to ensure fairer regional investment decisions. The initiative aims to boost access to jobs, improve quality of life, and address economic disparities, particularly in areas facing electoral challenges. This announcement precedes the government's upcoming spending review, which will determine departmental budgets for the coming years.