The government has formally agreed to work with Greater Manchester on plans for a new railway connecting Liverpool and Manchester via Warrington as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
As part of the major investment of up to £45 billion announced by the Chancellor last week – that is set to transform rail travel across the north of England – the government has said it will work with Manchester and Greater Manchester partners to explore an underground option at Piccadilly station, recognising its potential as a catalyst for growth.
The new Liverpool-Manchester line would underpin the Northern Growth Corridor – a bold strategy to drive growth from the Mersey to the Pennines, stretching into Yorkshire, Lancashire, North Wales, and beyond, with local analysis suggesting it could generate around £90 billion in additional GVA by 2040 from the North West section of the Northern Arc alone – with a key connection at Manchester Airport, the north’s gateway to the rest of the world.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, leader of Manchester City Council, and other leaders in Greater Manchester are keen to demonstrate how an underground station could turn Piccadilly into a ‘Kings Cross of the North’, referring to the regeneration that has transformed the area around the central London railway station in recent decades.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander met with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham to sign the formal agreement on Thursday 22 January.
Heidi Alexander 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.”
Andy Burnham commented: “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 agreement recognises the potential for an underground solution at Manchester Piccadilly to be a catalyst and enabler for major regeneration and economic growth in Greater Manchester and across the North by unlocking land for redevelopment.
It also recognises the need for further ‘testing’ to make sure the underground proposal will deliver value for money as well as analysing it against alternative options.
The document states that local funding will be needed to contribute to an underground at Piccadilly in addition to any contributions made towards Manchester Airport station.
The agreement also sets out how the government will work with Greater Manchester on the exact scope, costs, outputs and benefits of the wider NPR scheme which will be delivered in three stages with the Liverpool-Manchester line to be built in the second phase.
A formal review of the underground option at Manchester Piccadilly will be led by Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, and senior civil servant Tom Riordan, who is the government’s Envoy to the Northern Growth Corridor.
Image credit: Transport for Greater Manchester
