Tue, 13 Jan 2026

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 New Birmingham-Manchester rail link to be proposed

Previous plans for a high-speed rail line between the cities were scrapped by Rishi Sunak's government.

* The government plans to build a new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester
* The project was previously scrapped as part of the HS2 high-speed rail line, but will be revived after Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) is completed
* Details about the new link are scarce, with only an intention to build it in the future, potentially decades away
* The existing West Coast main line is overcrowded and ministers acknowledge the need for increased capacity
* Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has supported the idea of an alternative new line between Birmingham and Manchester
* Plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail were first proposed by former Conservative chancellor George Osborne in 2014
* The project aims to cut travel times between northern cities and boost the UK economy outside of London
* Expected announcements from the current government were put on ice last year due to cost concerns, with a review process underway to avoid mistakes made with HS2.
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