The government has announced a major revival of the long-awaited Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project, pledging up to £45 billion to "reverse years of chronic underinvestment" in the north of England's railways. The plan aims to create faster, more frequent connections between key northern cities.
A Three-Stage Plan for Northern Connectivity
The ambitious programme will be delivered in three distinct phases, starting with the ongoing upgrade of TransPennine links. This first stage will be extended to include a new station in Bradford, a significant win for Yorkshire.
The second phase will see the construction of a new line connecting Liverpool and Manchester. This route will travel via Manchester Airport and Warrington, utilising part of the scrapped HS2 high-speed rail alignment, which leaves open the possibility of a future connection to Birmingham.
The final stage will deliver further improved connections across the Pennines, linking Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, and York into a more integrated network. The government stated that NPR would form the backbone of a wider growth plan for the region.
Funding, Timeline, and Key Negotiations
While the Treasury has committed to the £45bn envelope, it has imposed this cap to avoid the overspends seen on HS2. Notably, local mayors and authorities may need to raise revenue to ensure the full scheme proceeds, potentially through mechanisms like business rates or tourist taxes, similar to how London funded Crossrail.
Construction on the new lines is expected to begin in the 2030s, with completion not anticipated until at least 2045. Any new line between Manchester and Birmingham would only start after NPR is finished.
Negotiations between Whitehall and northern leaders went down to the wire. A key sticking point was Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's demand for an underground station at Manchester Piccadilly, which could cost billions more than an overground solution. The government has shown openness to the idea, and Burnham has pledged to "work at pace" to prove its case.
Reaction from Northern Leaders and Industry
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the investment proved the government was "putting our money where our mouth is," ending a cycle of "broken promises" for the north.
Mayors across the region broadly welcomed the announcement. Andy Burnham called it a "significant step forward" and an "ambitious vision." Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, praised the "genuinely strategic approach" and "real investment."
The three Yorkshire mayors—Oliver Coppard, Tracy Brabin, and David Skaith—issued a joint statement welcoming the "clear national focus" on connecting Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, and York.
Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said the package would "enable a single labour market" for the north, unlocking potential for better-paid jobs and new homes.
In a further boost for the North East, development work will also progress on reopening the Leamside Line in County Durham, which was closed in 1964.
