I grew up here, I know how poor transport is'..Liz backs high-speed trains for the North

LIZ Truss has committed to building a £43billion high-speed rail link across the North if she becomes prime minister.

- Macer Hall

The Tory leadership frontrunner pledged to deliver the planned Northern Powerhouse Rail project that was dramatically scaled back by Boris Johnson just nine months ago.

The project includes a high-speed coast-tocoast route linking Liverpool and Hull as well as better local services across the North.

Ms Truss promised to find the extra £26billion needed for a “full fat” modernisation of the network rather than the watereddown version currently planned.

Her supporters see the move as the strongest signal yet of her determination to hang on to the so-called “Red Wall” northern seats captured by the Tories from Labour at the last general election.

However, the Foreign Secretary also ruled out reviving the £32billion eastern spur of the HS2 rail line dumped by No 10.

Ms Truss revealed her rail vision during a visit to Leeds yesterday ahead of last night’s first hustings event for Tory grassroots members in the leadership contest.

Speaking in the West Yorkshire city, she said: “I grew up in Leeds, I know how poor the transport is and frankly, it’s not got much better since I was a teenager getting the bus into Leeds city centre. What I want to see is really fantastic rail services, better roads so people are able to get into work.

“I also want to stop militant action by the trade unions, so hard-working people who do the right thing can get into work, set up businesses and help grow our economy.”