New rail routes and improved lines using 140mph trains to slash key journey times by up to 40 minutes are unveiled today as part of the Chancellor ’ s multi-billion pound plan to ‘ revolutionise travel in the North ’ . Journey times between Leeds and Newcastle could be cut to 50 minutes - compared to a best time now nearly an hour and half ( 87 minutes currently ) for cost of between £8.5bn and £14.0bn , says a new report to be published in Liverpool by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin . The 140mph trains could reduce the Liverpool to Manchester journey times to around 20 minutes – but cost as much as £13billion . The new routes , shown here , will slash journey times by up to 40 minutes- with travel time between Leeds and Newcastle cut to 50 minutes - compared to a best time now nearly an hour and half for cost of between £8.5bn and £14.0bn . Another plan to reduce journey times between Sheffield and Manchester from the current 48 minutes to 27 minutes could cost as much as £19billion . But sceptical rail unions dismissed the Government ’ ideas to boost transport in the North as : ‘ yet more pie-in-the-sky nonsense ’ . The new Government plans are part of the Chancellor ’ s ‘ Northern Powerhouse initiative to link ‘ the great cities of the north ’ . It builds on the Government ’ s HS3 idea – high speed lines from East to West across the North to link with the controversial £50billion high speed HS2 line going from London in the South to Birmingham and then onto to Leeds and Manchester in the North . New rail routes and improved lines using 140mph trains to slash key journey times by up to 40 minutes are unveiled today . The so-called ‘ TransNorth ’ rail network would link Liverpool , Manchester , Leeds , Sheffield , Newcastle and Hull – with sections capable of speeds up to 140mph - Journey times between Liverpool and Manchester could be as low as 20 minutes ; Manchester to Sheffield and Leeds could both be 30 minutes ; Leeds to Hull could be just 45 , and Sheffield to Hull 50 minutes . Journey times from Manchester to Newcastle could be cut by a quarter ( 25 % ) . The report by the Government and the regional quango Transport for the North includes studies by Network Rail setting out for the first time the different options for creating such a network along with indicative costings running to billions of pounds . Plans set out in the report include : slashing journey times between major northern cities with investment in high speed rail ; developing new east-west road connections including a road tunnel under the peak district ; and introducing Oyster-style smart travel cards and simpler fares across the North . Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin ( left ) has backed the investment but Mick Cash , leader of the Rail , Maritime and Transport union , ( right ) claimed it was just more 'pie-in-the-sky nonsense ' The Chancellor George Osborne ( above ) claimed the report had the potential to revolutionise transport in the North . A Department for Transport spokesman said : ‘ Options range from radically upgrading existing routes to building completely new lines. ’ Transport Secretary McLoughlin Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne , Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg , Transport Secretary McLoughlin and Northern city leaders are backing the first ‘ Northern Transport Strategy ’ report following work by Network Rail work on rail improvement options . The department for Transport said : ‘ The report sets out a long term strategy to connect up the north , create a single economy and allow northern towns and cities to pool their strengths . ‘ The Chancellor and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin are in the North West today to launch the report . The proposed new routes : . The proposed upgrades : . Mr McLoughlin is today at the Port of Liverpool ’ s container terminal L2 before joining the Chancellor on a visit to Stockport . They will also announce the go-ahead of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road . Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said : ‘ No government has given such attention to the infrastructure of our great northern cities and how to deliver a world-class , integrated transport network for the north . The proposals announced today will reduce journey times while increasing capacity and connectivity , enabling growth. ’ Chancellor Mr Osborne said : ‘ This report has the potential to revolutionise transport in the North . ‘ From backing high speed rail to introducing simpler fares right across the North , our ambitious plans for transport means we will deliver a truly national recovery where every part of the country will share in Britain ’ s prosperity. ’ Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said : ‘ All of this will ensure the North can race ahead in a stronger economy and does n't become one big bottleneck. ’ But Mick Cash , leader of the Rail , Maritime and Transport union , said : `` This is yet more pie-in-the-sky nonsense from the Government on the so called Northern Powerhouse when in reality transport services across the region in the real world are lumped with clapped-out , overcrowded trains with any replacement programme light years off . ’
New rail routes are announced in plan to ‘ revolutionise travel in the North ’ Journey times between Leeds and Newcastle could be cut to 50 minutes . 140mph trains could reduce Liverpool to George Osborne times to 20 minutes . The multi-billion pound plan also includes major upgrades on current lines .