Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide support for the proposed Liverpool to Manchester railway improvement project.

Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain, and the Government is committed to improving rail connectivity across the North, including boosting rail connectivity from East to West.

As announced in the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government is maintaining momentum on Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) by progressing planning, design and development works to support future delivery. Providing better rail connectivity between Liverpool and Manchester is a key part of NPR.

The Government is committed to improving the performance of the railways.In addition to NPR, the Government is supporting the development of a multi-billion pound investment programme upgrading the North’s transport network. This work includes the Transpennine Route Upgrade and the Greater Manchester and North West programme, including exploring options between Liverpool and Manchester.