Mayor calls on government to deliver around South Yorkshire’s key asks in Northern Powerhouse Rail

The Mayor of South Yorkshire tells us one of his 'key aims' for 2026 is to 'make progress' around improving the rail network.

Oliver Coppard wants the government to commit to delivering an 'overhaul' of the train stations in both Sheffield & Rotherham.

He says it should all fit into the Northern Powerhouse Rail plans:

“I’ll be clear, if that plan isn’t good enough for South Yorkshire, I will tell them I’m not happy.

“There are problems at Sheffield station in particular, where it's too small and it doesn't have enough capacity.

“So, if we're going to increase the number of trains that we run up to Leeds or run over to Manchester, we need to increase the capacity at Sheffield. Part of the solution to that includes increasing the tram train network.

“I want to see the White Rose Rail Agreement, which we’ve agreed with the mayors of West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, I want to see the government back that plan for the longer term too.

“So, there’s some immediate asks around connections to Manchester to Leeds and I want to see an improvement in Rotherham, because we’ve got plans for a station there, and that’s important.

“That’s what the Northern Powerhouse Rail Plan, the northern growth corridor, has got to be for me.

“I’m making that case every day to the government. I’ve spoken to the Transport Secretary and other minister this week, we’re absolutely pressing that case.

“I hope we get some good news in the new year, but I’m very clear with the government what we need in South Yorkshire, and it can’t come soon enough.”

You can read more about Northern Powerhouse Rail on the link below:

https://www.transportforthenorth.com/northern-powerhouse-rail/