The National Infrastructure Commission has recommended the Government take immediate action and bring forward proposals to boost the HS3 programme.

In its third report, High Speed North, the organisation stated the North "needs immediate and very significant investment" for action, in addition to developing a plan for the regions longer term transformation.

The Commission's chair Lord Adonis has now urged government to 'kick-start' HS3, creating a 'higher frequency' network from Liverpool in the west to Hull and Newcastle in the east.

This would be done by incorporating key northern sections of HS2, upgrading lines, and installing sections of new track where necessary.

In addition, future route decisions on the northern sections of HS2 should also support enhanced high-speed connections within the North, including between Leeds-Sheffield, Liverpool-Manchester, and Sheffield-Newcastle.

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Recommendations are also in place to redevelop Manchester Piccadilly as well as carrying out 'urgent improvements' to the M62 between Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.

Lord Adonis said: "If the North is to become a powerhouse it has to be better connected.

"Leeds and Manchester are just forty miles apart but there is no quick and easy way to travel between the two. In rush hour it can take more than two hours by car, by train it can be almost an hour.

"So we should kick start HS3 across the Pennines and slash journey times to just 30 minutes. But we must not wait decades for change - journey times should be cut to 40 minutes by 2022.

"A transformed northern rail network should include high speed connections to HS2 and the dramatic redevelopment of Manchester Piccadilly to deliver jobs and investment across the centre of the city.

"By road, major improvements should be brought forward to transform the M62 between Liverpool and Leeds, cutting journey times by up to 20% and increasing capacity by a third, alongside the development of a major strategy to enhance the entire motorway network including access to Britain's third busiest airport - Manchester Airport.

"A better connected north will be better for jobs, better for families and better for Britain. The work should begin as quickly as possible."

(LM/MH)