Total pie in the sky idea here (too much Railroad Tycoon).

The WCML has had millions spent on it and really, only serves a limited part of the country north of Preston etc.
At times heading down the M6, you are lucky to see a train at all.

The link between Leeds and Manchester is said to be important, but does nowt for the North East.

How about a new east/west link, basically following the route of the A66, using the valleys around Kirkby Stephen to link to the WCML?

No doubt it would cost billions and upset environmentalists...