Northern Hub report into city rail network

The regions transport leaders have welcomed the Northern Hub report, produced by Network Rail, which sets out a future for the city’s rail network and outlines the changes needed to upgrade rail services for business and leisure travellers.

Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) has expressed support for the report’s proposals, which it considers should form the basis for a programme of rail investment.

The Northern Hub report aims to address and resolve the constraints of the rail network in Greater Manchester and the north, which could otherwise seriously restrict the potential for sustained growth in the region.

It proposes improvements to links between the north’s major cities, including Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Leeds, in order to maintain the region’s economic growth, as well as additional capacity at key stations including Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria, and Manchester Airport.

The proposals, if funded, could see more services for both commuters and longer distance travellers, reduced journey times, and more locations made accessible without the need to change trains. This would enable another 3.5 million people to travel every year and accommodate the ever-increasing demand for rail services in the region.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chair of GMITA, said: “Rail patronage in Greater Manchester has grown by 82% in the past decade, and rail travel is the safest and most sustainable form of transport available, so we welcome the Northern Hub report’s proposals to improve the rail network.

“If put into practice these proposals would be of huge economic benefit – not just to Manchester but to the north as a whole. Faster, more frequent and more reliable rail services across the north of England are essential to boost the region’s growth and could lead to £4 billon worth of benefits.”

Councillor Ian Macdonald, Vice Chair of GMITA, said: “If the recommendations in the report are taken on board, and if we can also secure a commitment from the government to provide extra train carriages for the region, Manchester will finally be equipped with the sort of railway network it needs if it is to continue to be the fastest-growing economy outside London. Securing a commitment to fund the Northern Hub must be a key objective for the government after the general election.”