NORTHERN transport leaders have welcomed £3 billion of investment in new rail infrastructure.

Board members of Transport for the North (TfN), including Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, had called on the government to renew its commitment to to the TransPennine route upgrade, following the recent railway issues.

Rail minister Jo Johnson also bowed to pressure from the board to appoint a troubleshooter, charged with overseeing both rail operations and infrastructure work, currently completed by separate companies.

Richard George, former director of transport at the London Olympics, has been appointed to take up the position.

TfN chairman John Cridland said: “Our call to government is an example of the North clearly stating its intent and ambition with a single voice through Transport for the North.

“We are pleased that the government is showing continued commitment to the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which is a vital component of the Northern Powerhouse, and we look forward to working closely with the Department for Transport and Network Rail as detailed design begins.”

TfN hope the route upgrade will be able to target journey times of around 40 minutes between Leeds and Manchester, as well as 62 minutes between Manchester and York.

It is also expected to increase reliability and capacity and provide six long-distance services every hour.

In addition, the work could mean freight would be able to be transported across the Pennines, something which is not currently possible.

Addressing the appointment of a new troubleshooter, Mr Cridland added: “Our focus as a board is on a rail service that is reliable, resilient and environmentally sustainable and we will continue to press the industry in order to deliver on our vision.

“Richard George’s appointment is a major step forward for the travelling public of the North and a clear indication that government is listening to the views of Transport for the North.

“It will enable us to address the structural issues relating to the rail industry that have had a major impact on passengers, while the imminent implementation of the further compensation scheme we have been seeking will help passengers who were disrupted earlier this year.”

He was joined by Mr Burnham, who said: “The secretary of state said in the Spring that fixing this mess was his number one priority, but we have seen little evidence of improvement, and performance levels of Northern and TransPennine Express services remain not good enough.

“That is why last month leaders from across the North called for a troubleshooter to be appointed as a voice for the long-suffering passenger; to take command, bang heads together and get things fixed. I am pleased that the Government has finally taken this significant step, an acknowledgment that efforts up to this point have proved inadequate.

“It is now crucial that government ensure this troubleshooter starts work promptly – passengers deserve to see a dramatic improvement as quickly as possible. It is crucial that this individual is given all necessary powers to make a significant and lasting impression and is able to put this chaos to an end.”

Mr George is expected to begin his new job once the Department for Transport and TfN can make a decision on the details of his appointment and what his role will involve.