New Birmingham-Manchester rail line planned by Government
The Government has announced its intention to build a new railway line between Birmingham and Manchester.
A previous plan to extend HS2 between the cities was scrapped by Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government in October 2023 to save money.
The Treasury said it wants a new Birmingham-Manchester rail line but that it would not be “a reinstatement of HS2”.
No timescale was provided on when it would be built.
A new line would ease pressure on the West Coast Main Line.
The Treasury said the new line would not be open until after the completion of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), a scheme to boost east-west rail connections across northern England.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Government was “rolling up its sleeves” to deliver NPR.
The first phase of the programme would improve connections on the following routes: between Sheffield and Leeds; between Leeds and York; and between Leeds and Bradford.
Development work would also be taken forward on reopening the Leamside Line, a 21-mile route between Pelaw, Gateshead, and Tursdale, County Durham, which was closed in 1964.
A second phase of NPR would involve a new route between Liverpool and Manchester via Manchester airport and Warrington.
The third and final phase involved better connections across the Pennines between Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York.
Regular services would run on to Newcastle via Darlington and Durham, and Chester for North Wales connections.
The Treasury said a “funding cap” of £45 billion would be set for NPR.
An initial £1.1 billion for development and design work would be available to enable the creation of a “detailed delivery plan which will include timings”, the Treasury said.
Sir Keir said: “Over and over again, people in northern communities, from Liverpool and Manchester to York and Newcastle have been let down by broken promises.
“This cycle has to end. No more paying lip service to the potential of the North, but backing it to the hilt.
“That’s why this Government is rolling up its sleeves to deliver real, lasting change for millions of people through Northern Powerhouse Rail: a major new rail network across the North that will deliver faster, more frequent services.”
NPR is the focus of the Government’s wider Northern Growth Strategy, which aims to also provide better jobs, more homes and increased investment in the region.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “If economic growth is the challenge, investment and renewal is the solution.
“That’s why we’re reversing years of chronic underinvestment in the North.
“Our transformative plans will create jobs, build homes and unlock opportunities for businesses to invest.”
