The National Audit Office (NAO) has published a report into the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme, calling for stronger cross-government working and closer alignment with the wider economic strategy to ensure the project can succeed.

The report reviews the Department for Transport’s (DfT) progress on the programme to improve rail links between major northern cities.

The NAO notes that the DfT has made some progress in setting up Northern Powerhouse Rail for success, despite delays and changes to the programme’s scope. However, it says further work is needed to ensure the project delivers its intended benefits.

The report recommends that the government establishes how it will work with key strategic partners involved in the programme. It also says the department should review the programme’s benefits against their expected cost and assess how it is applying lessons learned from other programmes.

Figure 9 of the report, on pages 35 and 36, outlines the 11 lessons the DfT has identified from delivering previous major rail programmes. It also sets out 24 actions for embedding these lessons into the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme.

Summarising the findings, Jonny Mood, Director at the UK National Audit Office, said that while the DfT is clarifying its plans for the programme, it must ensure the project is aligned with wider growth strategies and supported by effective cross-government working to maximise its benefits.

Read the full report here.