The shortlist has been unveiled for £860,000 funding to upgrade public transport links across England, with 10 city regions still in the running for a share of the funds.

The 10 city regions were named in he next stage of the £1.7 billion Transforming Cities Fund are Derby & Nottingham, Leicester City, the North East, Norwich, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and West Yorkshire.

The Fund supports cities to make it easier, safer and quicker for people to travel and get to work by funding improved transport connections.

Six Mayoral Combined Authorities have already received a share of £840 million to deliver schemes such as the Brierley Hill tram lines extension in the West Midlands and £160 million towards the Beeline Cycle Network in Greater Manchester.

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Over the next four years, the new allocation of funding will be used to improve transport links in city regions, linking travel to work areas, increasing access to jobs and helping ensure that businesses have the infrastructure they need to thrive.

Announcing the next stage of the fund, Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Our great cities and their suburbs are home to millions of people and world-beating businesses.

"We want to help them succeed, so as part of our modern Industrial Strategy we will fund £840 million of upgrades for better, safer, faster transport links.

"These improvements to vital infrastructure will help spread growth beyond London and empower local businesses to create more, better-paying jobs – opening up more opportunities to help people get on in life and be rewarded for their hard work."

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling added: "Good bus, cycle and tram routes play a huge role in increasing the vitality and vibrancy of cities.

"These 10 areas now have the chance to transform their transport systems – making it easier for people to get around and enhance links to work, school or shops.”

The ten shortlisted city regions will each receive an initial £50,000 as well as bespoke support from government to co-develop the strongest cases for investment. Once finalised, funding decisions will consider the relative strength of each bid and their impact on improving connectivity, supporting employment and driving up productivity.

(CM)