Two hundred years and two days on from the original Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company’s formation, there are hopes the two cities could be on the brink of another rail revolution.
They are hopes shared by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham , his Liverpool City Region counterpart Steve Rotherham — plus Bev Craig and Liam Robinson, the council leaders in both cities. That’s because they are members of the new Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board, which has been tasked with delivering a new line between the north west’s largest urban areas.
And despite the eye-watering sum, in announcing the board, there was a shared sense of belief among the four politicians that, this time, the project won’t hit the buffers. The Labour shadow cabinet are said to be supportive of the plans, too, should they win power at this year's election. “I think what we are trying to say is ‘how do we pay for those ambitions in Liverpool city centre, Warrington, the Airport, and in Manchester city centre?’,” Mr Burnham added. “It’s down to us to see if we can come up with a way to do it and fund the right railway for the north west.”
The board is additionally keen to work with private firms — even opening it up to expressions of interest — to deliver the project. Alongside this, there is the aforementioned plan to re-examine where freight trains go in Greater Manchester, which currently travel through the city centre. Mr Burnham wants to see the Trafford Park freight terminal relocated to Port Salford, or the developing Parkside in Warrington, just over the border from Wigan, to alleviate rail congestion.
Andy Burnham Piccadilly Train Station
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