Prime Minister Andy Burnham is anticipated to accelerate a study into addressing capacity constraints on the West Coast Main Line between Birmingham and Manchester. This follows an earlier government intention to build a new line connecting the two cities.
The intercity operator Avanti West Coast is expected to be renationalised in spring 2027, with all train operations being folded into the new Great British Railways. Continued poor performance could potentially bring this change forward.
Plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) include a largely new, faster Liverpool-Manchester line, with a maximum price tag of £45bn. Mr Burnham has also advocated for an underground station at Manchester Piccadilly as part of NPR.
By 2030, 96 national rail stations in the Greater Manchester city region are planned to be integrated into the Bee Network, bringing local rail services under its fare cap.