New £45 billion Northern Powerhouse Rail plans including new Manchester Airport route outlined in King's Speech
The government say the project will 'transform intercity rail in the north'
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Chris Slater Senior Reporter
15:15, 13 May 2026
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Manchester's Piccadilly station is central to the plans(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
The government is pushing ahead with plans for a new rail line between Liverpool and Manchester as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), it was announced in the King's Speech.
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Whilst Andy Burnham says there is an 'openness' on Whitehall to an underground station which could transform Piccadilly into 'the King's Cross of the North.'
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Up to £45 billion is being invested to transform rail services across Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, the monarch said, as he set out the government's legilislative agenda for the next session of parliament.
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The project will be delivered in three phases, the government says. The first phase will see upgrades to the lines east of the Pennines, including electrification, speficially on the Leeds-Bradford, Leeds-Sheffield and Leeds-York corridors.
After this, they will then move forward with plans for a brand new line between Liverpool and Manchester, via Warrington and Manchester Airport.
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The announcement was made in this year's King's Speech(Image: Getty Images)
The route will be outlined in the Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill when it is brought forward. The government are to adapt the bill that was granted for the now cancelled section of HS2 between Crewe and Manchester which they say will provide them with the 'necessary powers' to implement it and make use of the 'significant progress already made.'
The third phase will focus on better links across the Pennines, 'over and above' the upgrades which are already underway.
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The overhaul will 'transform intercity rail in the North, make travel more convenientfor people across the region and drive economic growth' the government said.
They added it will 'support thousands of new homes and commercial developments' including in Manchester city centre.
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Andy Burnham with the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram. A new line will provide a further link between the cities(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
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Reacting to the announcement, Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, said “Finally, we have a government with an ambitious vision for the North, firm commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail and an openness to an underground station in Manchester city centre.
"A modernised Manchester Piccadilly could become the King’s Cross of the North, acting as a catalyst for major growth in our city regionand beyond.
"Over the past decade, we have become the UK’s fastest growingcity region, but underinvestment in rail infrastructure has long acted as a brakeon further growth. Today marks a significant step forward for Greater Manchester.”
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The CEO of the Manchester Airport Group, Ken O’Toole,said: “By placing Manchester Airport at the heart of a full Northern Powerhouse Rail Network, people and businesses across the region will havethe direct access they deserve to the world.
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Manchester Airport Group CEO Ken O'Toole(Image: Manchester Evening News)
"That will help high-value industriesto thrive and attract investors and visitors to all parts of the North - maximisingthe region’s contribution to national growth.”
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The Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Henri Murison, added: "“Northern Powerhouse Rail will enable a single labour market more like that of London and the South East so a young person in Bradford could aspire to work in Sheffield or Manchester, or a business there attracttalent from further afield than they can today.
"The potential of the North will beunlocked, giving us better paid jobs and new homes. The need for improvedglobal connectivity across the North is huge, and this will be achieved byconnecting Manchester Airport directly to Liverpool and across to cities like Leeds
