Up to £780 million is to be invested in major upgrade works on the East Coast Main Line railway route.

The Prime Minister has confirmed the funding at a Cabinet meeting in Gateshead today, 23 July.

The multi-million pound rail upgrade will get underway in 2019, with completion set for the early 2020s. Features include improvements to platforms, tracks, signals and junctions across the route.

As part of the government’s devolution agenda for the Northern Powerhouse. Mrs May is also the confirm that government will lay the legislation to formally make the £600m North of Tyne Devolution Deal with Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside a reality. The deal will see powers transferred from central government to local people in the North of Tyne, helping to generate 10,000 new jobs in the region.

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In addition, the PM will announce a further investment of £180m to drive forward innovation and cutting-edge research in the field of Offshore Renewable Energy Innovation and the High-Value Manufacturing Catapults, which has major facilities in the region.

Mrs May said: "We have set out major policies and investments as part of our Modern Industrial Strategy to unlock the potential in the North - and more than any government in history, we are making sure that we are delivering the outcomes that really matter to people who live and work here."

(LM/MH)