![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_255124359-97ec.jpg\")
\n\t\tWhat the Liverpool Central train station could look like if it\u2019s revamped as part of the new rail link plan (Picture: GMCA)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tWhat the Liverpool Central train station could look like if it\u2019s revamped as part of the new rail link plan (Picture: GMCA)<\/p>\n
Train journeys between Liverpool<\/a> and Manchester<\/a> could soon be half as quick if the rumoured rail link goes ahead. <\/p>\n The quicker rail link has been on the wishlist of the Greater Manchester and Liverpool mayors after the HS2\u2019s northern leg<\/a> was axed. <\/p>\n The multi-billion pound rail link, which would cut journey times between the cities by 20 minutes, could become a reality if it receives government<\/a> funding in the Chancellor Rachel Reeves\u2019 \u00a3113 billion spending review<\/a> today.<\/p>\n Journeys between the cities usually take between 45 and 55 minutes, with multiple stops in between. <\/p>\n The government is expected to announce funding for the project today, a source told Metro<\/strong>. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a><\/strong> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> <\/strong>alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n \t\t Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said the Victorian rail infrastructure is \u2018now acting as a brake on growth,\u2019 while Steve Rotheram, the Liverpool City mayor, argued that the faster link is \u2018something that the people in the North quite rightly deserve.\u2019 <\/p>\n It comes after the Chancellor announced \u00a315 billion funding to transport projects<\/a> in the North and Midlands last week, including for Greater Manchester buses and the Stockport tram extension, a new rapid transit link in Liverpool, and the new West Yorkshire and Leeds tram system<\/a>. <\/p>\n The \u00a33 bus cap<\/a> will also remain in place for at least two more years, the Chancellor confirmed. <\/p>\n Here is everything that has been revealed about the new rail link so far. <\/p>\n What is the new Liverpool-Manchester rail link? <\/p>\n \t\t The Liverpool-Manchester Railway could \u2018supercharge economic growth\u2019 with a \u00a315 billion boost and 22,000 new jobs during the construction, which could start in the early 2030s, the region\u2019s leaders said. <\/p>\n Plans show the express rail link would have only three stops between Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street. <\/p>\n The proposed stops would be at Manchester Airport, Warrington Bank Quay and Liverpool Gateway, although the exact gateway location has not been confirmed yet. <\/p>\n Liverpool Lime Street, the seventh busiest train station outside London, and Manchester Piccadilly would be revamped. <\/p>\n The city\u2019s stations have become \u2018bottlenecks\u2019 with limited platforms and track capacity, Rotheram said.<\/p>\n \t\t The new railway would help alleviate the \u2018immense pressure\u2019 on the existing network, the mayors said. <\/p>\n The areas around each station, will be redeveloped as new \u2018growth zones,\u2019 with new homes, jobs and regeneration in the pipeline ahead of the new rail link. <\/p>\n As many as 500,000 new homes could be build along the rail corridor.<\/p>\n People in Liverpool reacted to the news on social media, with many saying there should be a direct rail link to John Lennon Airport first. <\/p>\n One person said: \u2018Create a direct link to John Lennon Airport, South Parkway is a total waste of time for people trying to use our airport.\u2019 <\/p>\n Another Liverpool resident said: \u2018Manchester has the most to gain out of this plan \u2013 not Liverpool.\u2019 <\/p>\n Burnham said: \u2018Just over 200 years ago, the world\u2019s first passenger railway was built to connect Liverpool and Manchester, transforming the nation\u2019s fortunes for centuries. But Victorian infrastructure is now acting as a brake on growth.<\/p>\n \u2018A new Liverpool-Manchester Railway would be shorter than both London\u2019s Elizabeth line and East West Rail connecting Oxford and Cambridge, but would punch well above its weight in both growing the UK\u2019s economy and better connecting our high-growth sectors.<\/p>\n \u2018For too long, such major infrastructure projects in the UK have been delivered in a top-down way. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018We want to work hand-in-hand with government to plan and deliver this railway from the ground up, enabling us to maintain our growth momentum for Greater Manchester. A new, locally-led delivery model will mean we can build our pipeline of regeneration, new homes, skilled jobs and green growth around the rail line with real certainty.\u2019<\/p>\n The northern mayors travelled to Westminster ahead of the spending review to ramp up the pressure on the government to back their plans. <\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_255124363-0065-e1749632037905.jpg\")
\n\t\tManchester Piccadilly would also be revamped as part of the proposal (Picture: GMCA)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_255124369-8924.jpg\")
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\n\t\tA map shows where the new rail link would run between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly (click to zoom) (Picture: Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board)<\/p>\n![\"Andy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_251225483-3dfe.jpg\")
\n\t\tAndy Burnham (left), Huw Merriman, the chair of the Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board, and Steve Rotheram want construction for the new rail link to start by the early 2030s (Picture: PA Wire)<\/p>\n
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