The government is expected to announce its intention to build a new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester, according to the BBC. This proposal comes after the cancellation of the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the HS2 high-speed rail project by Rishi Sunak's government.
The announcement, anticipated on Wednesday, will also include confirmation of proposals for new and improved rail links across the North of England, under the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme. NPR is aimed at cutting travel times between northern cities and towns.
Details regarding the new Birmingham to Manchester route are scarce. The government's current intention is to build it after the completion of NPR, a timeline that could potentially stretch into decades.
The concept of bringing high-speed rail to the north of England originated in 2014, proposed by then-Chancellor George Osborne. A new rail line connecting Liverpool and Manchester is considered a crucial element of the broader Northern Powerhouse Rail project.
Katy Austin, Transport correspondent, reported that the new rail link is intended to improve connectivity between the Midlands and the North. The Northern Powerhouse Rail project, as a whole, seeks to boost economic growth in the region by facilitating faster and more efficient transportation.
Currently, the focus remains on the Northern Powerhouse Rail project, with the Birmingham-Manchester link positioned as a future endeavor. The government is expected to release further details on the NPR plans and the proposed Birmingham-Manchester route in the coming days.
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