£45 billion for Northern Powerhouse Rail

I welcome the Labour Government’s announcement on Northern Powerhouse Rail which confirms the biggest investment in rail connectivity in a generation for the North of England. With up to £45 billion committed, this is a clear commitment to address decades of underinvestment and to deliver the modern, reliable rail network that Greater Manchester and the wider North West urgently need.

For too long, rail connectivity in the North has lagged behind the South with slow journey times, limited capacity and poor infrastructure holding back growth. Northern Powerhouse Rail will change that by delivering modern, electrified lines and frequent “turn up and go” services across the Northern Growth Corridor, linking Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and York, with onward connections to the North East, Hull and North Wales.

Greater Manchester will sit at the centre of this network. The plan for a new Liverpool–Manchester route via Warrington and Manchester Airport, alongside increased capacity at Manchester Piccadilly and improved cross-Pennine links, will significantly improve reliability and journey times. Better connections to Manchester Airport will also strengthen the North West’s global links.

As a major rail hub and gateway into Greater Manchester, Stockport stands to benefit from increased capacity across the network, more reliable services and the wider economic growth that improved connectivity brings. Northern Powerhouse Rail will work alongside existing commitments, including funding to extend Metrolink to Stockport, to deliver the connectivity that Stockport deserves. 

I am pleased that this project is being delivered in close partnership with Mayors and local leaders including Labour’s Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham. I know that our Mayor will be working closely with the Government to ensure that the benefits of Northern Powerhouse Rail will be felt across Greater Manchester and the North West, including in Stockport.

I will be pressing the Government to ensure that accessibility is prioritised throughout this project. Accessibility of  rail stations in the North of England is poor with less than half of all stations having step-free access to all areas. Whilst some stations in the North have benefitted from the Access for All programme, progress has been slow (with an average of only three stations per year in the North benefitting). 

Sadly, three out of five rail stations in my constituency- Brinnington, Heaton Chapel and Reddish South - do not have step-free access, and I want to see that addressed as soon as possible. It is simply unacceptable that disabled passengers, parents with pushchairs, older people and people who are less mobile than us are excluded from using their local stations with dignity and ease. I raised this issue with the Secretary of State for Transport in the House of Commons, urging her to strengthen the Access for All scheme- https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DjLW9XgxD/ 

I will also continue to press the Government on restoring proper, frequent passenger services at Reddish South Station. With Northern Powerhouse Rail set to improve connectivity across the North West, I believe that nowhere should be left behind. I would like to thank Friends of Reddish South Station as well as Friends of Heaton Chapel Station for their continued hard work and dedication to restoring proper connectivity for residents across all parts of Stockport. 

This is a significant and positive step forward for our region. It demonstrates a clear commitment to backing the North with long-term investment and to turning ambition into delivery.