ELECTRIFICATION of the TransPennine railway is excellent news for passengers and businesses in Yorkshire, says Keighley’s MP.

Kris Hopkins was speaking after an announcement at the Conservative Party conference that the electrification project would resume immediately.

The upgrade, due for completion by 2022, is expected to provide capacity for six fast or semi-fast trains per hour and take up to 15 minutes off the current journey time between Manchester and York.

Mr Hopkins spoke this week from the party conference in Manchester after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, announced the creation of a new independent body to speed up major transport, housing and energy projects, backed by an extra £5 billion of Government funds.

Mr Hopkins said: “Delivering a Northern Powerhouse is at the heart of the Conservative Government’s long-term economic plan for our country.

“We must improve our national infrastructure, and better transport connections are pivotal to this.

“The electrification of the TransPennine link, providing greater capacity and faster services, is excellent news for passengers and businesses in Yorkshire, and I am delighted that work has restarted.

“The announcement of the new body to speed up other major schemes is also hugely significant and underlines that the current Government is committed to delivering on its promises.

“The Chancellor has made very clear – including in with meetings with me – that the Northern Powerhouse is central to the future success of our economy.

“I look forward to working with him and other ministerial colleagues to achieve our shared aspirations to stimulate greater prosperity for the North and close the North-South gap.”