Furious political leaders in the north of England are pledging to fight for a fair deal on transport cash after the Government scaled back plans in the north while backing billions more for the south.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has sparked anger by supporting a new £30 billion Crossrail 2 scheme in London and the south-east, days after a series of rail projects in Wales, the Midlands and the north were axed or downgraded.
The decision has been described as a betrayal of the north with London "jumping the queue" on regions waiting spending on transport.
Leaders in Manchester, Liverpool, West Yorkshire and Sheffield have lined up to criticise the plans, highlighting the north-south funding gap.
But the Department for Transport (DfT) insisted money for the north was not being cut, despite earlier pledges to electrify trans-pennine rail lines to improve speed and capacity, now being shelved.
Instead, new "bi-mode" trains which run on diesel and electricity are planned. Critics say electric trains are faster, cleaner and greener.
One scheme, the electrification of the line between Leeds and Manchester, part of a wider plan to upgrade the entire transpennine line west from Liverpool to Hull and Newcastle, was seen as a key element of the "Northern Powerhouse" to boost the economy across the region through a "Crossrail for the North".
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, is urging other city mayors and council leaders to join forces to get a better deal for the north.
Meanwhile, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) North think tank has launched a petition calling for the Government to fund Crossrail for the North.
Ed Cox, director of IPPR North, said: "To approve or back Crossrail 2 ahead of backing the Northern Powerhouse rail programme is really rubbing salt into the wounds.
"We are going to be calling for the Transport Secretary to pledge backing for Crossrail for the North.
"Over the past decade we have spent £59 billion more in London than in the north of England so over the next decade there's £59 billion catch-up cash should be devolved to transport for the north."
Crossrail 2 will run across London between Hertfordshire and Surrey at an estimated cost of £30 billion. The new scheme would start in Epsom, Mr Grayling's constituency.
Crossrail 1, already under construction in London, is estimated to cost £14.8 billion and runs through Maidenhead, whose MP is Theresa May.
IPPR North research shows what it called a scandal of unfair investment in London and the south-east above the regions, with the north missing out on £6 billion each year in taxpayers' cash.
Mr Burnham said he and other mayors and council leaders will now consider the best way to challenge the Government's "neglect" of the north.
The IPPR calls on residents, charities and businesses in the north to sign their petition on the 38 Degrees website, write to their MPs and get involved in their campaign by emailing north@ippr.org.
A DfT spokesperson said the Government was investing more than £1 billion in rail across the north and £800 million on new road schemes in the north-west, and no public money has been committed yet to Crossrail 2.
The spokesman added: "Building transport infrastructure has the potential to drive economic growth, create jobs and spread wealth across the country. That's why we're spending £55.7bn on HS2, which will better connect Manchester and Leeds to the Midlands and London. It's also why we're committed to improving trans-Pennine services, and are working with Transport for the North to cut journey times and increase capacity between the major cities of the north.
"We are currently investing over £1 billion to improve rail infrastructure across the North of England, and major upgrades to the Manchester – Leeds – York route are being designed and developed. We are also investing £800 million on new road schemes in the North West, creating around 600 jobs – including upgrading the M62 to a four-lane smart motorway.
"In spending taxpayers' money, it's vital for the government to deliver value for the whole country. So while we have agreed to work further with Transport for London on Crossrail 2, we have also said that London needs to pay half of the upfront construction costs and we have not committed any public funding yet."