Manchester and the North West is set to receive £84m in investment to increase the reliability of services across the region.
As part of the investment trackside upgrades, platform extensions for longer trains and bigger depots will be built across the region.
Rail Minister Wendy Norton MP announced the infrastructure projects at Manchester Victoria station that will transform train journeys in the region.
The work forms part of the Secretary of State’s Manchester Recovery Task Force’s (MRTF) plans to boost reliability in the North West.
Work is already underway to upgrade track-side equipment between Manchester and Liverpool with platform extensions taking place on the Cumbrian route.
Additional platform extensions are also set to take place on some of the busiest routes across the North West and West Yorkshire.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP spoke on the improvements set to take place as part of the £84m investment.
Mr Shapps said: “This £84m investment will make trains more reliable for the people of Manchester and beyond
“[This] kicks off a decade’s worth of improvements across the region.
“The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), the Integrated Rail Plan and Northern Powerhouse Rail will transform the lives of passengers across the region for generations to come.
“As we level up the country, we’re determined to use rail to boost local economies, create greener journeys and changes lives for the better.”
The £84m investment will also allow work to continue on schemes across the North West including:
- Improved passenger facilities at Manchester Piccadilly, Victoria and Manchester Airport stations.
- Work on the TRU will also continue with electrification, re-signalling and track renewals all taking place.
- Re-signalling will also take place along the Castlefield Corridor and the remodelling of Manchester Oxford Road station.
Dave Penney, Passenger Strategy Director for Network Rail’s North West and Central region commented on the benefits of the investment.
Mr Penney said: “Improving passenger journeys has been at the heart of the rail industry’s hard work to tackle congestion through Central Manchester.
“This major Government investment will mean fewer delays and add 20% more peak-time seats from December 2022.
“Network Rail has worked with the whole industry as part of the MRTF on how to maximise this £84m investment.
“[This] promises to boost capacity and improve connectivity across the North of England as part of Britain’s rail recovery.”
All of these plans are in addition to the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan which will see £96bn worth of investment in the North and Midlands.
The TRU will pave the way for Northern Powerhouse Rail and will transform journeys between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and York.
