Greater Manchester to Liverpool rail links set for up to £20 billion investment

Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has revealed up to £20 billion could be spent on improving rail links between Manchester and Liverpool.

Following the cancellation of HS2 North of Birmingham, the government’s ‘Network North’ proposals to reallocate funds into smaller scale transport schemes promised £12 billion to support the rail link between Greater Manchester and Liverpool, and would add to the £4 billion already committed to the plan in 2021’s Integrated Rail Plan. Andy Burnham has also proposed that the uplift in land values that could come about from improved infrastructure could add a further £4 billion through levies on landowners to the budget available for the East to West rail link connecting Liverpool, Warrington, Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly.

Alongside Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, Andy Burnham met with the Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, on 1st November to discuss improving rail connections in the North in light of HS2’s cancellation. The high-speed rail line had been expected to add significant capacity improvements to the region’s rail network by moving the faster intercity trains onto their own tracks, freeing up space for more local and freight traffic, however, was cancelled by Rishi Sunak at the beginning of October beyond Birmingham in light of spiralling costs, anticipated to exceed £100 billion.

Addressing press after the meeting, Andy Burnham described an ‘open and honest discussion’ with Huw Merriman about improving rail links in the North West and said the Rail Minister showed a willingness to work with local leaders. He said:

“We confirmed that our ambitions remain a station at Manchester Airport and an underground station at Manchester Piccadilly, and the Minister said he was open to the idea of land value capture playing a part in that so that the lift in land values that comes by putting in modern infrastructure, some of that can be brought back to to help pay for that infrastructure.

“So can we make the £16 billion £20 billion for instance, or even a little more so that we can achieve the ambitions that Liverpool have, Warrington have, the airport and ourselves in Manchester, in Manchester city centre, so it was a positive meeting.”

Rail ambitions for connecting the North West’s two largest cities would see new track and station upgrades to connect Liverpool Lime Street and Warrington, and on to an enhanced Manchester Airport station. Trains would then follow the HS2 route into the city centre, and reach new underground platforms at Manchester Piccadilly where they could continue on towards Leeds, with this section of the line expected the account for the majority of the budget available.