A new high-speed rail line between Liverpool and Manchester is planned

LEEDS, England — On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Co., the world’s first intercity passenger railway, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester announced the new Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board on May 22, 2024. This new the deal also brings plans for an improved high-speed rail line between the two northern English cities as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme. This follows the cancellation in late 2023 of the Birmingham to Manchester segment of HS2 (see “British Government axes part of planned high-speed route” Trains News Wire, 4 October 2023).

A joint press release from Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester said the announcement took place at the UK Infrastructure and Property Investment Forum in Leeds, with Mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram as keynote speakers. Both leaders will sit on the board, as will Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig; Liverpool City Council Leader Liam Robinson; local authorities along the proposed route; the port of Liverpool; Manchester Airports Group; and other stakeholders. The council will work with government and engage with the private sector to help build the business case for the line.

Plans for the line include proposed termini at Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly stations, along with stations at Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport. Additional plans include an underground station at Piccadilly and improvements to Liverpool city centre. The BBC reports that the service could cut overall journey times by between an hour and 25 minutes, according to Rotheram.

Burnham said both mayors had received confirmation that the £17bn of public funding earmarked for the canceled HS2 link was still available for the new line. However, he cautions that this is the “starting point” and that Liverpool-Manchester Rail Council will be looking for further investment. “We have the budget,” added Rotheram. “We want to grow this, but we also really have the best interests of the cities of Liverpool and Manchester and the Liverpool city region and the Manchester city region at heart.”