Chamber boss welcomes prospect of new Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has welcomed proposals to create a Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board by the two regional Metro Mayors.
Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region mayors, respectively, made the proposal in a bid to improve transport links between the North West’s two powerhouse cities.
The two Mayors, who are both seeking re-election next week, revealed the Government has backed moves to examine options to bolster the corridor between Liverpool and Manchester.
This follows the scrapping of the HS2 project last year and the Government’s pledge to use funding earmarked for HS2 to improve transport infrastructure throughout the UK.
Later today (25 April 2024), Labour’s Louise Haigh will unveil a plan to deliver the “biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation” ahead of the launch of the party’s “thorough and detailed roadmap” to take Britain’s rail network into public ownership.
But the city region Mayors want to expand their powers over transport. Burnham has his eyes set on taking commuter lines in Greater Manchester into the orbit of Transport for Greater Manchester.
A new organisation to develop rail links between the two cities could coincide with the 200th anniversary of the world’s first passenger railway in Rainhill in 2029.
Paul Cherpeau, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber, said: “We welcome the ambition of these latest proposals and we look forward to hearing further details as they emerge.
“A better connected Liverpool City Region across all forms of transport is beneficial to businesses and the Chamber and its members stand ready to work with the combined authority, city council and other relevant bodies to deliver an enduring improvement in our rail infrastructure.
“The movement of freight and people is of critical importance to the attractiveness and success of the region.
“The prospect of a quick and reliable rail connection across the north could be a real catalyst to unlocking our growth potential and partially mitigate the impact of not delivering HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.”
Steve Rotheram has voiced his support, in the past, for a new twin track link between the two cities, rather than cut-price upgrades to existing freight lines.
In a letter to Mr Rotheram and Liverpool City Council leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, Transport Secretary, Huw Merriman, wrote: “I am committed to continuing to work with yourselves and other local leaders toward identifying the best solutions for this corridor.
“I can confirm that we are willing to look at alternatives to using the West Coast Main Line into Liverpool and station options as part of the next phase of work once the high level strategy for this corridor is confirmed.”
Both mayors have said that, if re-elected following the May 2 local elections, they will convene strategic partners to begin discussions on the scheme.
Mr Rotheram said: “Our two regions were railway pioneers and we’ve already shown in the Liverpool City Region how publicly-run transport delivers a much better service for passengers and taxpayers alike. We’ll continue that proud tradition by working to establish a new publicly operated Liverpool-Manchester link, putting Labour values at the heart of our railways.”
Mr Burnham said: “The first railway line in the world was created here 200 years ago and we can now bring one forward 200 years later, actually that can have high ambitions as well, because the Government has finally listened and they’ve opened the possibility of a line up between the two cities.”
They also highlighted the option of creating a new two-stop link, ultimately terminating at Manchester Airport, including using the new £500m Merseyrail Class 777 train fleet to operate the line.
Mr Rotheram said: “That would open up possbilities in terms of Merseyrail for All, we could go to all parts of our city region and have Merseyrail services going as far as Greater Manchester.”