New board says reversing rail under investment is vital for North West economy

A new Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board has been established to maximise the economic and social benefits of a new railway between the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester.

Working with the government and engaging with the private sector to help build the business case, the Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board will advance a place-based, bottom-up approach to deliver “world-class connectivity and turbocharge the economy of the North West”.

Marking the 200th anniversary of the formation of the original Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company, which oversaw the construction of the world's first inter-city passenger railway, the Mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region in launching the Board set out their preferred options for improvements to rail infrastructure linking the North West’s two largest city-regions as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme.

The plans include investment in city centre stations in Liverpool and a modern, underground station at Manchester Piccadilly. A new, high-speed rail line would run through new stations at Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport, connecting the Investment Zones in Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester via prime development sites.

The new Board will be chaired by the two Mayors with the leaders of Manchester City Council, Cllr Bev Craig, and Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robinson, serving as vice-chairs. It will involve local authorities along the route, as well as the Port of Liverpool, Manchester Airports Group, and other stakeholder organisations.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said, “Our region was home to the first inter-city railway anywhere in the world, but today our rail network is now not fit for purpose after decades of underinvestment. The scale of economic opportunity right along the line is huge, with Investment Zones in both city-regions and several major development sites, but the North West can only reach its potential with better rail connectivity. 

Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said, “Our region has been revolutionising Britain’s railways for centuries. But sadly, regions across the North have been forced to contend with infrastructure that wouldn't look out of place 100 years ago. It suffocates growth and holds the country's economy back.

“Transformative investment in better rail connectivity between our two city regions is more than just a regional project. This is a nationally important infrastructure scheme that would help to unlock the North’s enormous potential and deliver a greater return to the Treasury.

Leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Bev Craig, added, "Improving rail connections across the north of England is absolutely fundamental to our future success. Investing in better links between our two great cities is a vital step towards that and it's important that we get on with delivering it and that we get it right, maximising the opportunities which will be created. But we also need to see Northern Powerhouse Rail delivered in full, from Liverpool to Hull and improved north-south rail connections to ensure adequate capacity."

Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, said, “For Liverpool and the North West to truly realise our economic potential, we need a new age of the train – with a focus on investment in infrastructure. This region gave birth to the era of customer train journeys. It’s time we upgraded for the 21st century.”