The 30 year pipeline and an associated economic recovery plan could, it says, create up to 20,000 jobs in design and construction and deliver a return of £3 for every one pound spent.

A total of 166 projects are outlined in a first tranche of schemes, some of which could start to be progressed with the next six to 18 months. On the roads they include the Middlewich Eastern Bypass, Warrington Western Link and Carlisle Relief Road. Rail schemes identified include upgrades to Newcastle and Sunderland stations, with sustainable transport schemes delivering enhancements to Gateshead and Preston.

Projects identified where construction could start within the next two to four years include rail, cycling and walking upgrades in Cumbria, a northern access road for Kendal, dualling of the A582 and a future mobility zone in Leeds.

Longer term aims to begin in the next seven years include a road upgrade along the Chester to Broughton growth corridor and closure of level crossings between Leeds and Hull. The plan also highlights the need to pilot hydrogen and battery powered trains and to roll out more electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Transport for the North’s chief executive Barry White described the sub national transport body’s economic recovery plan as outlining “quick fire ways to rapidly invest in shovel ready infrastructure projects and initiatives, helping rebuild and transform the north over the next few years”.

He added: “Crucially, these aren’t new or over ambitious asks. They’re projects already in the system that now need the starting gun firing or a bit of work to nudge them across the line.”

Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham called on the Government “to take these proposals seriously and to work with us to deliver on the ambitions in this plan” to rebuild and transform the north for future generations.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority transport lead Judith Blake added: “We know that the way people access and use public transport has changed during the pandemic, but the fundamental challenge to build capacity and reliability into the transport network remains and must be addressed to truly transform the north.”