After years of delays, rewrites, and abandoned promises, rail infrastructure in the North of England appears poised for a major revival. Manchester leaders and regional counterparts welcomed a £1.1 billion commitment toward transport infrastructure as part of the broader £45 billion Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme. Central to this initiative is the new Liverpool-Manchester line, a potential underground Piccadilly station in Manchester, and the future revival of a Manchester-Birmingham route. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the plan is designed to reverse years of underinvestment, stating: “No more paying lip service to the potential of the North, but backing it to the hilt.”

The Liverpool-Manchester route is expected to cut journey times to just 35 minutes while boosting train frequency and capacity. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham described Piccadilly Station’s potential transformation as the “King’s Cross of the North.” Importantly, the government has agreed to review the option of an underground station—a major departure from previous overground proposals criticized for wasting prime land, creating visual pollution, and limiting economic growth. Manchester officials argue an underground station would allow through-running trains, future-proof capacity, and support three future Metrolink tunnels.

The push for an underground Piccadilly has been long and strategic. Local leaders, including Burnham, City Council leader Bev Craig, MP Lucy Powell, and others, opposed the overground plan, prompting a last-minute review expected to report in July. Although cost differences are significant, Manchester authorities have indicated a willingness to contribute locally raised funds to support the underground option, challenging prior government estimates and emphasizing the station’s long-term economic benefits.

The NPR programme will be delivered in three phases. Phase one focuses on upgrading TransPennine links, including electrification of Leeds-Bradford, Leeds-York, and Leeds-Sheffield lines, along with a new Bradford station and reopening the 21-mile Leamside Line in County Durham. Phase two, including the Liverpool-Manchester route via Manchester Airport and Warrington, is slated to begin construction in 2033, with a projected opening in 2037. Phase three will expand connections across the Pennines, linking Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, and York, with further services to Newcastle and North Wales.

Local leaders hailed the announcement as transformative. Chancellor Rachel Reeves stressed that investment would drive jobs, homes, and business opportunities, while Bev Craig described it as “a massive moment for Manchester.” Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram praised the strategic approach, and Manchester Airport managing director Ken O’Toole highlighted its potential to create a productive northern growth corridor. While the full NPR programme and any Manchester-Birmingham line are unlikely to be completed until 2045, officials express cautious optimism that this commitment signals genuine, lasting change for the North’s rail network.