In order to maximise the benefits of the new railway that will link Greater Manchester with the Liverpool City Region, a new Railway Board has been established.
Coming 200 years on from the formation of the original Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company, which was responsible for the construction of the world’s first inter-city passenger railway, the new board has been launched by the mayors of the two city regions.
Plans for the new railway that will link the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester include investment for new stations and a high-speed rail line. These plans stem from the scrapping of the northern legs of HS2, after which the mayors were invited by the government to advise on the best solution for the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, said:
“From the world’s first passenger railway powered by Stephenson’s Rocket to the Dockers’ Umbrella, 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 cannot and 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 delvier a greater return to the Treasury.
“There are fantastic, passionate leaders across the North in business, infrastructure and a wide range of sectors. We want their held: come and join us to deliver the same transformation that the Liverpool Manchester Railway did 200 years ago.”
The board will support the progress of a place-based, bottom-up approach to the delivery of the connection, which will be ‘world-class’ whilst also bringing turbocharged economy benefits to the North West. The new high-speed line is proposed to run through new stations at Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport, as well as a brand new, modern underground station at Manchester Piccadilly.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also commented:
“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.
“We’ve been successful in making the case to government for our preferred options – in Greater Manchester that means a new, underground station at Piccadilly. The new Board will help us accelerate these plans and capitalise on a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build the railway the North needs.”
Image credit: iStock and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority