Government commits to £30bn investment in transport

Date: 24/3/2011

During the next four years, the government has committed to making £30 billion of funding available for new transport projects across the UK.

Yesterday (March 23rd), Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne took his Budget for the year ahead to the House of Commons and revealed that the money being pledged to improve the travel network is more than was invested during the past four years.

Of the total fund, £200 million will be put towards new rail schemes, while local authorities will receive a total of £100 million to repair the potholes that were caused by the extreme cold of recent winters.

This figure is in addition to the £100 million previously announced in February.

Commenting at the time, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "I am determined to see the winter damage to our roads fixed as quickly as possible and we will be working with councils to make sure that happens."

Another major transport project the government is focussed on is that of high-speed rail - plans that are currently under consultation that the coalition believes could boost the economy by slashing journey times between London and other major cities.

Posted by Mary Treen