Rachel Reeves gives nod towards new Manchester to Liverpool railway line

The Chancellor promised to set out plans to 'take forward' Northern Powerhouse Rail

Rachel Reeves has dropped a hint that plans for a new railway line between Manchester and Liverpool could become a reality.

Unveiling her spending review today (June 11), the Chancellor set out the government's spending plans up to the next general election. Among the schemes cited in her speech to MPs, was Northern Powerhouse Rail which she said the government would 'take forward'.

This project has taken different forms since it was first announced by then-Conservative Chancellor George more than a decade ago.

Once dubbed 'HS3', the programme was originally envisaged as an entirely new high-speed railway line between Liverpool and Hull.

However, the plans were repeatedly revised under the last government - and Labour have yet to commit to exactly what it includes.

In recent years, much of the focus has been on the Manchester to Liverpool section which Andy Burnham has been lobbying for.

It comes after then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged £17bn to the project after cancelling the northern leg of HS2 in October 2023.

Last month the Manchester Evening News joined forces with the Liverpool ECHO to back the plans for a new railway line.

The M.E.N. understands that 'hundreds of millions' of pounds have now been set aside for the development and preparatory building work involved in the project which see half-hour express trains running from a new underground station at Piccadilly every 10 minutes.

The Chancellor did not confirm this in her speech, but promised more details on Northern Powerhouse Rail 'in the coming weeks'.

Ms Reeves also announced an extra £3.5bn for the TransPennine Route Upgrade which is already under way on existing rail lines.

She said: “I can announce a further £3.5 billion of investment for that route (TransPennine). But my ambition and the ambition of people across the north is greater still and so in the coming weeks I will set out this Government’s plans to take forward our ambitions on Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Responding to the news, Northern Powerhouse Partnership chief executive Henri Murison said: "Today’s Spending Review included a commitment by the Chancellor to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail – a project promised by the last government but repeatedly part cancelled and delayed.

"This must mean a new line from Liverpool to Hull and on to the North East, including a new station and route through Bradford, upgrades and electrification between Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester, a new line from Manchester Airport to Piccadilly and across to Yorkshire, and the full reopening of the Leamside Line."