Kirklees MPs who campaigned for better transport for the north have voiced their opinions on an ambitious plan to bring cities closer together by 2030.

A new tunnelled trans-Pennine route, fast intercity train service and electrification of the Calder Valley and south trans-Pennine route lines by 2024 were some of the key £15billion proposals by representatives from five cities, who came together to present their report in Manchester.

But Huddersfield Labour MP Barry Sheerman was not in agreement with Colne Valley Conservative MP Jason McCartney over the proposals, which he says will happen too slowly, causing severe damage to Northern economies: “A lot of my constituents will say this plan will take too long and I need to look into it more to see if it is a pie in the sky proposal that will come too little, too slow.

“I have been campaigning for first rate travel in the north for years and it is essential that we work as fast as we can to put a transport plan in place to invigorate the North and its economy- it doesn’t have to be complex.

“If we have to wait another 15 years it could erode instead of building upon the good life we have at the moment.

“Money from the HS2 project could be a lot better spent by concentrating on this northern bid, which should be the country’s priority.

“Everything takes so much longer nowadays since John Major sold off the rail system to private companies, a problem that countries like France and Germany don’t have.”

Chancellor George Osborne, who was present at the launch, pledged his support of the plan, which he called the ‘Crossrail of the North’.

It also recommended the need for increased freight transportation by rail and reduction of congestion on major motorway corridors.

No route has yet been proposed for the new Transpennine service.

Colne Valley Conservative MP, Jason McCartney, who is a member of the Transport Select Committee and campaigned for the Northern Hub Rail investment, was less critical of the plan.

He said: “It’s another big step in the right direction and there are many considerations to face to re-invigorate the economy and ease congestion for commuters.

“I think there’s a massive combined effort to improve the system on the back of the £1billion growth deal for Yorkshire, which needs this programme to make the most of our economies.

“The North is on the move but I will continue to push for more-we need faster, more regular and cleaner train services, with better rail fares for commuters.

“The Northern Hub scheme has attracted investment already and the George Osborne has shown that he is keen to get behind this project but I want more work, faster.”

Meanwhile, campaigner and chair of Stop HS2, Penny Gaines, questioned the benefit of continuing to push ahead with HS2 for Northern communities.

She said: “Reading the report, it’s clear that HS2 from London to Birmingham is not a priority for the Northern cities. What they want is better connectivity in the North, across all modes, which they won’t get from HS2.

“Included in the report is the suggestion that in some areas, local trains will have to be reduced to make way for HS2 trains. With the acknowledgement in the report that direct trains are important for passengers, this will be of real concern to local people.”