In this, the first episode of our One Voice series, we speak to Mayor Jamie Driscoll from the North of Tyne Combined Authority.

He talks us through the huge area he covers and the transport challenges with such a diverse landscape of rural and urban communities.

Mayor Driscoll tells us about the heavy investment that has gone into renewable energy sources such as offshore wind farms and gigafactories, and how he hopes that will further grow job opportunities in the region.

He reflects on the Conservative Party leadership vote and explains his key ask of the new Prime Minister.

We also discuss important topics for the North including his thoughts on the Integrated Rail Plan, HS2 and private car ownership.

You can share your thoughts on our podcasts by Tweeting and tagging us with @Transport4North!

The Transport for the North podcast is a forum to allow guests to express their personal opinions about the North, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of TfN.

With the deadline approaching for the public vote on where the home of the new Great British Railways HQ should be, we continue our campaign to ensure it is #NorthBased.

In this episode of our podcast, we speak to the pollical leaders championing two of the locations on the shortlist – Doncaster and Crewe.

Mayor Oliver Coppard, from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, says Doncaster is the absolute front runner in the race given the area’s railway heritage and the support across the community.

He says Doncaster is the natural home of the railways in the UK and in the DNA of the region.

Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, Councillor Craig Browne, said the headquarters should be in Crewe because it’s the only place boasting 360 degree connectivity with major towns and cities across the whole of the UK.

He added that if the Government is serious about the levelling up agenda, then the GBR headquarters simply has to be in the North.

You can share your thoughts on our podcasts by Tweeting and tagging us with @Transport4North!

The Transport for the North podcast is a forum to allow guests to express their personal opinions about the North, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of TfN.

We’ve launched a campaign supporting the four shortlisted locations in the North of England bidding to be the home of the new Great British Railways’ headquarters.

In this podcast episode, we speak to the political leaders representing two of the places in the running – Newcastle and York.

Mayor Jamie Driscoll, from the North of Tyne Combined Authority, believes the North East has the strongest case, given its railway history, links to universities and growing battery technology industry.

He says if levelling up is to be realised, then GBRHQ has to be based that far north, and as a decision making process, it can attract jobs and skills to the region.

We then spoke to the leader of York City Council, Councillor Keith Aspden, who said his city has unrivalled railway heritage.

He also believes being home to Great British Railways HQ builds on the railway cluster already in place in York and supports connectivity across the whole county.

You can share your thoughts on our podcasts by Tweeting and tagging us with @Transport4North!

The Transport for the North podcast is a forum to allow guests to express their personal opinions about the North, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of TfN.

In this episode, we speak to Lucy Jacques, Acting Head of Policy & Strategy, who is leading on the development of our second Strategic Transport Plan, and the policy positions that feed into the revised document.

She outlines the importance of the STP as part of our statutory responsibility and explains why we need to update the plan.

A lot of the evidence underpinning the original publication has evolved and there have been significant changes to the political, social and economic landscape.

With a growing focus on the levelling up agenda, now is the right time to look at the North’s ambitions and vision, and what we need to deliver on that ambition.

We also highlight two of our recently launched policy positions, focusing on how our role as One Voice for the North can support the further delivery of Active Travel and Multimodal Hubs.

Both are growing areas of transport policy and will play an important part in supporting the decarbonisation agenda.

You can share your thoughts on our podcasts by Tweeting and tagging us with @Transport4North!

The Transport for the North podcast is a forum to allow guests to express their personal opinions about the North, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of TfN.

In this episode of our Business Matters podcast series, we are joined by Labour MP for South Shields, Emma Lewell-Buck.

We talked about her pathway into politics, and how the chance to be the voice of her community really motivated her to move into public office.

Throughout the interview, we touch on the industrial and shipbuilding history of the North East and how the manufacturing industry remains crucial to future prosperity. Emma emphasises the need for investment in the skills that will support emerging and green industries.

We reflect on the funds announced for bus strategies in the North, and the difference better, cheaper transport could make to resolving ongoing struggles with connectivity.

Emma highlights the importance of the East Coast Mainline to the region, and the true value of speaking with one voice on transport issues to benefit the whole of the North.

By addressing the infrastructure issues and working to ensure Westminster understands the challenges, Emma believes the North East can become a thriving hub for investment while supporting opportunities for all communities.

You can share your thoughts on our podcasts by Tweeting and tagging us with @Transport4North!

The Transport for the North podcast is a forum to allow guests to express their personal opinions about the North, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of TfN.

In the latest episode of our Business Matters podcast series, we speak to Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for the North Board member.

He discusses how the Manchester city region is “on the up” and has become Europe’s fastest growing digital and tech hub, with ambitions to be the UK’s leading green city region.

With the UK’s largest student population combined with the diverse talent base already in the region, Mayor Burnham believes Manchester offers huge appeal to businesses looking to recruit in the area.

But he said investment is needed to ensure the transport system is world class. He believes connectivity and integration across all modes is vital to moving away from a fragmented and unreliable service.

The recent decision to bring bus services under public control, he says, will help the move to a more integrated London-style public transport network.

We also discuss the role of Transport for the North in bringing both political and business leaders together to speak with one voice on the transport issues impacting the region.

You can share your thoughts on our podcasts by Tweeting and tagging us with @Transport4North!

Join us for our most recent #TfNTalks discussion on how we can put our decarbonisation strategy into action!

Out speakers included Lucy Winskell OBE (Chair, North East LEP),

Mayor Jamie Driscoll (North of Tyne Combined Authority and TfN Member), Prof. Greg Marsden (Prof. of Transport Governance, ITS Leeds and Director of Decarbon8), Polly Billington (Chief Executive, UK100)and Peter Cole (Principal Environmental and Sustainability Office, Transport for the North.

TfN’s Decarbonisation Strategy aims to decarbonise surface transport in the region by 2045, ahead of the legislative national 2050 Net Zero deadline.

We also be discuss the Government’s national plans, including the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which is our national policy steer for achieving Net Zero in one of our most carbon intensive sectors. With announcements of Hydrogen Transport Hubs, greener buses and micromobility trials in the North, we will also reflect on what else we need to do in the years ahead to ensure we are meeting our targets.

We also consider the importance of decarbonising public transport in the North in a way that works for people, and delivers the full benefits of improved health and high-value job opportunities for the 16 million people living in the region. 

TfN’s Statutory Strategic Transport Plan set out the interventions required to achieve the economic potential contained in the Northern Independent Economic Review. This included the potential for almost £100Bn added GVA above business as usual by 2050, combined with 850,000 new jobs. These vital documents are now in the process of being refreshed, so it is a timely opportunity to reflect on our priorities.

Welcome to another episode of the Transport for the North Podcast!

Join our new Business Matters series, which looks at transport investment as an enabling force to encourage job creation, economic growth and increased access to opportunity for the 16 million people living here.

This time we speak with Craig Whittaker MP, who tells us about his role as the Member of Parliament for the Calder Valley. He says the area has an incredibly diverse range of industries, from advanced vehicle manufacturing to TV filming, as towns in his constituency play host to Sally Wainwright's Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax!

Rooted in a history of textile manufacturing, the area is now a popular place to live as a commuter location but also functions as a cultural hub for local people, with towns such as Hebden Bridge being home to a variety of successful arts venues, with historical links to poets such as Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.

Craig provides his views on levelling up, with a special recognition for the new Northern Class 195 rolling stock that has been introduced to the Calder Valley Line in recent years to replace the old pacer trains, and expresses his wishes for the line to be electrified.

However, he also speaks about the important role that healthcare services and flood resilience can play with providing a better quality of life for his constituents, whilst informing us about upcoming plans.

You can share your thoughts on our podcasts by Tweeting and tagging us with @Transport4North!

Please note that this podcast episode was recorded in February 2022.

Welcome to another episode of the Transport for the North Podcast!

Join our new Business Matters series, which looks at transport investment as an enabling force to encourage job creation, economic growth and increased access to opportunity for the 16 million people living here.

This time we speak with Councillor Keith Little and Dr Steve Curl, who are the TfN Member Board Members for Cumbria. They represent County Council and The Local Enterprise Partnership, telling us how improved public transport in Cumbria could strengthen the visitor economy and end transport related social exclusion in more rural areas.

We evaluate the diverse range of industries situated in Cumbria, including large industrial clusters along the coastline in towns such as Barrow-In-Furness. We also consider how tourism and agriculture provide plenty of opportunities, alongside the growing number of people who choose to work remotely from home in this beautiful part of the North.

Finally, we hear about Cumbria’s new Transport Infrastructure Plan and the potential it can unlock alongside plans drawn up by TfN. Listen now to find out why Cumbria is a great place to do business and what the future holds for the local economy!

Welcome to another episode of the Transport for the North Podcast!

Join our new Business Matters series, which looks at transport investment as an enabling force to encourage job creation, economic growth and increased access to opportunity for the 16 million people living here.

This time Gemma speaks to Mayor Tracy Brabin. As England's first female Metro Mayor and as the leader of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, she tells us about the wide-ranging benefits of setting up a business in West Yorkshire, highlighting the great mix of urban and rural living, with the potential to have a brilliant quality of life when living and working in the region.

She also reviews some of the positive change that the region has seen, such as the move of Channel 4, the initiation of the National Infrastructure Bank and the Northern Department for Transport Office in Leeds.

Mayor Brabin says it is crucial that we recognise the importance of seeing drastically improved connectivity to cities such as Bradford, which she says needs a new city centre through station on a new railway line between Manchester and Leeds.

Bradford is the UK's youngest city, with 25% of the population under the age of 18, demonstrating the urgent need to provide better opportunities through vastly improved connectivity for communities in this area of West Yorkshire. She also calls for the HS2 Eastern Leg to be delivered to Leeds, to increase capacity on the North's network, opening up opportunities for greener freight transport and faster services.

Finally, Tracy encourages listeners to get involved with her #TellTracy campaign, encouraging Northerners to share their experience on the North's rail network; you can get involved here: https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/a-mayoral-combined-authority/telltracy-about-your-rail-experiences/