The Government has welcomed plans to give a multi-billion pound rail boost to northern England.
The project, dubbed High Speed 3 (HS3), could see journey times between Leeds and Manchester cut by up to half.
The plans, due to be unveiled later, would cover an east-west section of northern England - across the Pennines - and would be in addition to the north-of-Birmingham phase two of HS2 which will see a Y-shaped route going to Manchester and Leeds.
Train services running between Liverpool and Hull will also be upgraded.
Journeys between Leeds and Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield Meadowhall, York and Birmingham, and Nottingham to Birmingham could also be slashed by a half or more, and many more journeys substantially shortened.
HS2 Ltd chairman Sir David Higgins said the new northern connectivity plans would be "as important to the north of England as Crossrail is for London".
Sir David told Sky News that the plans were in the early stages and there was no estimate as to how much the new link would cost. The budget for HS2 has been set at £50bn.
He said: "We have not put a figure on the east-west link because it's got to be part of a much broader transport strategy."
He added: "It isn't anything like the budget of HS2 because the link is some 40 miles long, (and) the link would be a combination of existing track and some new tunnels to speed up the journey time from one hour to half an hour and to double capacity."
Phase one of HS2 involves a new high-speed line from Euston in London passing through the Chilterns to Birmingham, with an expected completion date of 2026.
Phase two was originally due to be completed in 2032/33, although Sir David is keen for this date to be brought forward.
The project is strongly supported by the Government but is bitterly opposed by some councils and residents along the phase one route.
Sir David's four main proposals in his report are:
:: Need to take forward both legs of the proposed HS2 Y-network - the alternatives will not bring the same capacity, connectivity and economic benefits.
:: Improve the rail services between east and west - sharply reducing journey times between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull will stimulate local economies.
:: Northern cities should speak with one voice - local authorities from five key cities should join together to form a new body.
:: Set out a timetable to develop a new transport strategy to decide on an approach for improving rail and road connectivity across and within the region north of Birmingham.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he welcomed the report which will "create a northern powerhouse and ensure that HS2 delivers the maximum economic benefits".
Stop HS2 campaign manager Joe Rukin said Sir David's report "showed that the original plans for HS2 weren't thought through properly".
He added: "Changing the mess that is phase two doesn't change the fact that phase one is still a complete mess, as is the entire concept of HS2."
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