HS3 talks progress to the next stage

The government has announced the next stage of the Northern Powerhouse Rail between Liverpool and Manchester, which they say means passengers will benefit from faster journey times, more frequent rail services and better connectivity across the North.

Northern Powerhouse Rail, nicknamed HS3, is a proposed strategic rail programme designed to provide better connectivity between the North of England's major economic centres. 

The announcement comes after the government’s Network North plan confirmed £12 billion to boost travel connections in the area.

As part of this plan, the government committed to engage with local leaders and MPs to hear their views on the use of this funding and consider any alternative proposals they had to improve connections.

Local leaders and MPs expressed support for Northern Powerhouse Rail to serve Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport and for using broadly the previously proposed route between Liverpool and Manchester.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said that once delivered, passengers will benefit from quicker, more frequent services, which could see journey times cut by around a third.

This means the route between Liverpool and Manchester Piccadilly would be reduced from around 50 minutes to 35 minutes.

It will also mean passengers are able to ‘turn up and go’, knowing the next train will only be 10 to 15 minutes away.

Capacity could also be trebled between Liverpool and Leeds, offering 2,100 extra seats per hour in each direction.

Mark Harper, transport secretary, said: "I thank local leaders and local MPs for sharing their views and facilitating constructive conversations. I have heard a clear consensus, which means we can now take another crucial step towards delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail, part of this government’s plan to boost rail capacity, deliver faster journey times and offer better connectivity across the North."

The DfT said the announcement "follows strong support to retain a station at Manchester Airport, improving its connectivity for the millions of passengers who travel into and out of the airport each year."

Liverpool and Warrington, as well as towns in the east of the Pennines, could benefit from direct services to Manchester Airport. Passengers travelling there from Liverpool could see their journeys to the airport slashed by almost an hour while passengers from Leeds could benefit from a 41-minute reduction.

A Northern Powerhouse Rail station in Warrington could also support local regeneration ambitions, providing a transport interchange in its town centre and making it easily accessible by boosting its links to neighbouring cities.