The UK Transport Secretary has signed a formal agreement with Greater Manchester confirming joint work on plans for a new railway linking Liverpool and Manchester via Warrington as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme.
The agreement follows the Chancellor’s recent announcement of up to 45 billion GBP of funding earmarked for NPR. It sets out how central government and Greater Manchester will work together to develop the scheme, including exploring the case for an underground station at Manchester Piccadilly.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander met Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on 22 January to sign the document. The agreement commits both sides to progressing NPR as a phased programme, building on the ongoing Transpennine Route Upgrade.
Transport secretary signs transformational rail deal with Greater Manchester
© Transport for Greater Manchester
Under the proposals, a new Liverpool–Manchester line would form part of what has been described as the Northern Growth Corridor, stretching from the Mersey to the Pennines. The line would include a connection at Manchester Airport, strengthening rail links between major cities, towns and international transport hubs across the North.
The agreement recognises the potential benefits of an underground solution at Manchester Piccadilly, including improved connectivity and the release of land for redevelopment. However, it also states that the option will require further testing to assess value for money and to compare it with alternative approaches. Any underground station would require a contribution from local funding, alongside funding for the proposed Manchester Airport station.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:
Northern Powerhouse Rail will transform how people get around the north’s great towns and cities, providing better, more reliable public transport as well as delivering good jobs and new homes.
A new line between Manchester and Liverpool with an underground at Manchester Piccadilly will be the beating heart of a resurgent north of England in the 21st century.
This agreement demonstrates the government’s commitment to working with us. Together, we will deliver the best version of this transformational project.
The NPR programme will be delivered in three broad stages. These include electrification and upgrades on routes in West and South Yorkshire, development and construction of the new Liverpool–Manchester line, and additional cross-Pennine connections. The Liverpool–Manchester section is expected to be delivered in the second phase.
A formal review of the underground Piccadilly option will be led jointly by Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, and Tom Riordan, the government’s Envoy to the Northern Growth Corridor.
Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, said:
Today, I’ve strengthened this Government’s clear and unwavering commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail by signing an agreement with Mayor Burnham on the next steps for transforming connectivity in Greater Manchester.
With a new line between Manchester and Liverpool at the heart of our plans, alongside new stations at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, we will unlock new opportunities, more jobs and more housing for thousands of people.
By providing early clarity on scope and phasing, we are giving Greater Manchester the certainty it needs to plan ahead and unlock the full economic and social benefits for its people.
Building on our existing investment in the Transpennine Route Upgrade, we are getting on with the job to deliver the modern transport network the North has deserved for so long.
The agreement also establishes joint delivery boards involving ministers and mayors to oversee decision-making and delivery as the project moves forward.