Mayors demand a rethink on rail plans for the North
They claimed that the proposals do not make economic sense
Leaders from across the North have met in Leeds to discuss the government's decision to cancel the eastern leg of HS2 and scarp plans for an integrated line between Manchester and Leeds.
HS2 connections and a new line would have better connected the North, but instead focuses are being put on upgrading existing lines.
The government has been accused of letting people down and breaking promises- but ministers have said the new plans will improve journey times.
After the meeting in Leeds, Metro mayors from across the North put forward a united front to oppose the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) announced by the Government last week.
During a news conference, Mr Burnham described the IRP as a "bombshell" and said it does not solve the East-West connectivity problem between cities in the North.
"We have come together with a positive suggestion to move things forward," he said.
"Letting down future generations of the North"
After today's meeting, Greater Manchester's Mayor Andy Burnham said more needs to be done to improve rail connectivity within the North.
"Every one of us would be letting down the future generations of the North if we sat there today and said this is good enough for the North", said Mayor Burnham.
"We know it doesn't solve the problems. We know it doesn't give the capacity uplift. We know it doesn't give the connectivity.
"When you take a new line out of Manchester and join it with Victorian congested infrastructure, we know we're going to face massive disruption".
"Not about broom-brooms, it's about choo-choo trains"
The frustration has been felt throughout the region, with Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotherham stating that it could be better to nothing than go ahead with the government's new plans.
"It looks as if it would be better, with the option that's on the table, not to do that because of the knock-on effects of the visitor economy over that period of time", said the City Region Mayor.
"It's something I did warn the government of, so this is not a surprise to them. I asked them to look at these figures, they obviously haven't done it, and now we're getting spurious claims. We just need the evidence and that's what we've asked for today.
"I'll simplify this for the Prime Minister. This is not about broom-brooms, it's about choo-choo trains. The more people we get out of cars and into well funded and well connected public transport the better it will be for the environment."
"Woefully inadequate"
The decision to scrap the Eastern leg of HS2, as well as an integrated line between Manchester and Leeds, has been branded as "woefully inadequate" by Transport for the North's Interim Chair Cllr Louise Gittins.
Councillor Gittins added: “Leaders from across the North and from across the party political divide came together to ask for a network that would upgrade the North for this century and in line with the rest of the country. Our statutory advice asked for an over £40 billion network but the Government has decided to provide even less than half of that.
“If we truly want to level up the country we don’t need words and promises. We need commitment. We need investment. We need Government to make good its pledge to the North and to deliver funding so we can deliver value back into UK PLC.”
Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways for Lancashire County Council Charlie Edwards was at the meeting, and he is calling for greater transport links within Lancashire.
The Cabinet member said: "How are they going to restore the railways that had been cut back in the 60s? I'm really keen on Transport for the North continuing to lobby the Government as much as we do ourselves on getting those smaller but really important schemes.
"The high-speed connection between London and Lancashire is going to reduce the journey times from Preston from 128 minutes down to 78 minutes. That basically makes Preston in the London commuter belt. It's a major improvement, and it's going to be delivered a lot sooner than earlier anticipated."