Yesterday, Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, met to sign a formal agreement.

The agreement covers plans for a new railway to connect Liverpool and Manchester via Warrington.

The plans are part of Northern Powerhouse Rail, which was announced last week.

More specifically, the agreement acknowledges the potential for an underground option at Manchester Piccadilly; however, it states that something of this scale would need further testing to ensure viability.

Local funding will also be a requirement for the project.

Greater Manchester and the government will work out costs and benefits and a scope of delivery, which will likely be delivered in three stages, with the view of a Liverpool to Manchester line to be built in the second phase.

A formal review of the option will be led by Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, and senior civil servant Tom Riordan.

“Northern Powerhouse Rail will transform how people get around the north’s great towns and cities, providing better, more reliable public transport as well as delivering good jobs and new homes. 

“A new line between Manchester and Liverpool with an underground at Manchester Piccadilly will be the beating heart of a resurgent north of England in the 21st century. 

“This agreement demonstrates the government’s commitment to working with us. Together, we will deliver the best version of this transformational project.” 

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester