- It will take place in Newcastle on March 6th
- Northern leaders will meet to discuss how the North can be transformed
Transport for the North (TfN) today officially announced that its fourth annual conference will be held in Newcastle on Monday 6th March. Norther leaders will gather around a theme of how best we can “transform” the North to bring transformative change to the public transit system and leave a legacy for future generations.
The conference comes at a crucial time, with decentralization high on the political agenda, and provides a good opportunity to discuss how investment in transport infrastructure supports efforts to ‘transform’ and unlock the potential of Northern England.
TfN will also announce the first results of the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review (NPIER) and our updated Strategic Transport Plan (STP). The conference will also feature discussions on Transport for the North’s work in the areas of EV charging, freight and logistics, active travel and rural mobility.
Transport is about long-term benefits, to connect people to enable growth and higher productivity. One of the biggest issues facing Northern England remains the need to address decades of underinvestment in our transport system: Poor and unreliable connections are holding our people and businesses back, stunting growth and hampering accessibility and social mobility.
North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll said:
“I’m alarmed at how bad our transportation system has become. Children cannot come to school. I’ve heard of stores that don’t open because employees can’t come to work. The north deserves better.
“Until we have a public transit system that’s as fast as a car, that’s affordable, reliable, and that makes everyone feel safe day and night, we’ll never get the economic boost we need or address the climate emergency.”
“Join me at the annual TfN conference with fellow leaders, industry experts and most importantly voices from the community – tickets are free.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“In the North we are being let down by the failure of train services so bad that they are taking a toll on our economies and affecting people’s daily lives. We cannot allow this to continue.
“In recent months we have seen an increasing focus on the needs of the North. The TfN Annual Conference will show once again how we, as leaders and people in the North, speak with one voice to ensure we get what we need to fulfill our ambitious plans for the future.”
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said:
“We are stronger together and I am pleased to stand alongside other Northern leaders working towards a more connected North. At the moment, with dozens – sometimes hundreds – of rail travel cancellations every week, now is the time for North to choose its own destiny and say to unsuccessful operators ‘enough is enough’.
“People need to get to work, to uni and to see their loved ones, and public transport brings us together and connects communities. So it’s important that we find ways to ensure future generations can make the most of it.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:
“I look forward to speaking at Transport for the North’s annual conference. By working together we can find ways together to continue the progress we are making in places like Teesside.
“Events like this allow us to speak with one voice about what we need from our transport infrastructure to ensure the path we are taking in our region is the right one.”
Martin Tugwell, Chief Executive at Transport for the North said:
“We are delighted to hold Transport for the North’s fourth annual conference and to present our ambitious vision to transform the North through investment in the North’s transport system and the need for speed if we are to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth over the longer term.
“Our conference offers a unique moment in which leaders from politics and business gather in one place to meet and discuss the big issues affecting the North. And it will be an opportunity for us to discuss the updated NPIER and STP that underpin the economic agenda in the North this decade.”
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contact information
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Notes for editors
You can view the agenda and confirmed speakers here. The conference agenda is evolving week by week, keep checking back to see who we have lined up to speak.
For more information or image and interview requests, please email mediarelations@transportforthenorth.com or call 0161 244 1450.
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About traffic for the north
Transport for the North became England’s first sub-national transport authority in April 2018. We are bringing together the North’s local transport authorities and business leaders so our region can speak with one voice about the transport infrastructure investments needed to drive transformative growth and bring the UK economy back to balance.
Our vision is a thriving North of England where world class transport supports sustainable economic growth, excellent quality of life and enhanced opportunities for all.
We work with Network Rail, National Highways and HS2 Ltd and as a legal partner with the Department for Transport, our recommendations are formally taken into account by the Government when making important transport decisions for the North.
In February 2019 we released our Strategic Transport Plan, a blueprint for how strategic investment in transport could support gross value added growth of up to £100bn and create 850,000 jobs by 2050.
Find out more at: transportforthenorth.com and read our 2022/23 business plan.
