NEWS of the One North report earlier in the summer was a breath of fresh air, rekindling the hope that a five city alliance between Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield would be developed as a realistic rival to London.

However, what has been given with one hand has too quickly been taken away with the other with some northern based commuters facing rail fare hikes of 162 per cent (Echo, Sept 8).

This risks preventing efficient movement of talent as well as people being able to commute into key cities while living further out.

London has the newly upgraded overground and much anticipated Crossrail projects so now we need real action and results in the North to prove that the rhetoric and reports are not just hollow attempts to win votes.

Stuart Law, chief executive, Assetz, Stockport.