A review into the future of the UK’s railways commissioned by the Labour Party has recommended a new railway route connecting various northern cities together in a mirror of similar services in the south of England.

The Rail and urban transport review was commissioned by Labour last December while it was still in opposition, although its recommendations have only just been published.

It calls on the new government to approve an ambitious strategy to increase journeys by public transport, walking and cycling by 2035, and to double the mode share of rail within a decade.

It follows the recent cancellation of various infrastructure projects by the Labour government, including the Restoring Your Railway Fund, which would have reopened lines and stations that had been previously shuttered.

Juergen Maier, former chief executive of Siemens UK, chaired the review. He said: “A new, modern east to west connection between the key cities in the north – like that experienced in London and the south...