The Liverpool-Manchester Railway is a bold new proposal to transform how people and goods move across the North West. Backed by local leaders and businesses, this nationally significant project aims to deliver place-led growth through greener, more frequent, and more reliable rail connections between two of the UK’s most dynamic cities. The Railway is one of the key components of Northern Arc vision to generate £90bn in economic growth in the region by 2040.
The Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board (LMRB) has been established to maximise the economic and social benefits of a new railway between the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester. Taking a place-based approach that seeks to work in partnership with central government and the private sector.
The LMRB is chaired by Mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, with the leaders of Manchester City Council, Cllr Bev Craig, and Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robinson, serving as vice-chairs. It also involves other local authorities along the route, as well as the Port of Liverpool, Manchester Airports Group, and other stakeholder organisations.
A Partnership Board, which brings together business leaders and industry specialists, is already working alongside the LMRB to help build the business case for the most ambitious line possible.
The plans include transformational investment in city centre stations in Liverpool and a modern, underground station at Manchester Piccadilly. The line would run through new stations at Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport, connecting the Investment Zones in Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester via prime development sites.
In May 2025, the LMRB published a new report detailing how a new Liverpool-Manchester Railway could supercharge economic growth and set a new model for delivering major infrastructure in the UK.
What's being proposed
The Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board is looking at plans for a new railway line. The line would:
- Link Liverpool and Manchester. It would connect Liverpool city centre to a new underground station at Manchester Piccadilly.
- Add new stations. These include Liverpool Gateway, Warrington Bank Quay, and Manchester Airport.
- Improve airport access. Better train links to Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport would make travel easier and help more businesses reach Manchester Airport within 90 minutes.
- Connect with other major rail projects. It would join up with Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 infrastructure, improving travel across the North—especially to Yorkshire, Crewe, Chester, and North Wales.
- Support greener freight transport. More space for freight trains would reduce road traffic and help meet the UK’s goal to grow rail freight by 75% by 2050.
- Be built with care. The project will learn lessons from the past and delivered differently-shaped by local knowledge and national interest.
Why it matters
This isn’t just about trains—it’s about unlocking opportunity. A new railway between Liverpool and Manchester will:
- Boost the economy by supporting a Northern Arc vision to generate £90bn in economic growth in the North West by 2040. During construction alone, it is forecast the line would support 22,000 jobs and deliver a £15 billion economic boost.
- Connect people to jobs with over 500,000 more people will be able to reach Liverpool and Manchester city centres in about 30 minutes by train.
- Unlock new homes across the region. With up to 500,000 additional homes supported in sustainable locations around high-quality public transport infrastructure.
- Free up space on congested local railways, enabling enhanced local passenger and freight services, improving travel for everyone.
- Support net zero by shifting more journeys from road to rail.
- Reduce traffic and improve local travel by taking pressure off busy roads, making local journeys better for everyone.
Benefits for you
Whether you travel for work, leisure, or business, this railway project will:
- Make journeys smoother and more reliable, even on existing routes.
- Create new chances to work and invest in the region.
- Improve air quality and reduce traffic on the roads.
- Better connections across the North West and beyond.
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