Announcement of the new council by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps last week came alongside a pledge of almost £600M to kick start upgrades to railway routes linking Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester.

Northern leaders have welcomed the developments, which Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said feel like “a gear change” from the Government in the delivery of transport improvements for the region.

“I welcome the new drive that the Transport Secretary is bringing to this,” he said. “People here deserve a modern, reliable public transport system and it is my hope that the Northern Transport Acceleration Council will bring forward the day when that is a reality.”

The council’s work will be supported by Department for Transport staff based in northern cities and dedicated to delivering improvements within the region.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This new body will not only give leaders like me another avenue to press our transport case to Ministers. DfT staff based in the north will also see first hand the challenges and opportunities we face, and the improvements and projects needed to unlock further growth and prosperity, with the ability to act on these.”

The announcements were also welcomed by Transport for the North chief executive Barry White, who said: “It is important that TfN, reflecting the voice of the 15 million people in the North, and the new organisations work in partnership to build back better and level up.”

However Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary Jim McMahon claimed that Transport for the North was originally established to deliver the same aims as the new council, “yet it had its roles and responsibilities pulled from underneath it”.

He said: “The Government needs to deliver tangible action and give the funding and powers needed to rebalance infrastructure spending across the country.”

Grant Shapps also announced £589M of funding to begin work to improve the Transpennine main line last week. This includes doubling a congested section of the route between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester from two to four tracks and electrifying most of the line.

Full electrification, digital signalling, more multi tracking and improved freight capacity are also under consideration as part of an ‘Integrated Rail Plan’ due to publish in December.

* Greater devolution of transport powers is also sought in the South East of England where the region’s sub national transport body has submitted a bid for statutory status to the Government this week.

If granted, Transport for the South East would become the UK’s second statutory sub national transport body after Transport for the North, giving it direct influence over Government decision making on transport issues.

(Photograph: Network Rail)