In a significant move to reshape the nation's transport network, the Labour government is set to announce plans for a major new railway line connecting Birmingham and Manchester. This forms the centrepiece of a long-awaited overhaul of east-west rail links across the North of England.
A Long-Awaited Revival for Northern Powerhouse Rail
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will confirm the government's commitment to the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project in a speech on Wednesday. The project, often dubbed HS3, was first proposed during David Cameron's premiership but has faced years of delays and uncertainty.
The announcement will feature a specific pledge to construct a new line between Birmingham and Manchester. However, this key section will only proceed once the rest of the NPR scheme – a complex mix of upgrades and new lines linking towns and cities across the North – is finished.
Filling the Void Left by HS2's Demise
This move represents a shift in Labour's position, which had previously resisted pressure to replace the cancelled northern legs of HS2. The high-speed line was originally designed to run from London to Birmingham before splitting, with branches heading to Manchester and Leeds.
Those plans were scrapped in stages by Conservative governments. Boris Johnson first axed the route to Leeds to cut costs, before his successor, Rishi Sunak, cancelled the Manchester leg entirely at the 2023 Conservative Party conference. These decisions sparked fierce criticism from northern leaders and highlighted chronic capacity issues on the existing west coast corridor.
A Timeline Measured in Decades, Not Years
Residents and businesses hoping for a swift solution will face a long wait. The full NPR project is not anticipated to be delivered until 2036. Consequently, any spadework on the new Birmingham-Manchester line is highly unlikely to begin before that date, assuming no further delays.
According to initial reports, work on NPR will commence with upgrades to existing lines in Yorkshire. Following this, the government will kickstart construction on a new line between Manchester and Liverpool. The broader plan also includes a major push to electrify other railway lines across the North.
The Department for Transport and the Treasury declined to comment on the proposals ahead of the official announcement.
