Mayors propose rail link with potential to unlock £70bn

A private sector consortium has proposed a Midlands-Northwest Rail Link (MNWRL), an 80km rail line connecting the Midlands with northern towns and cities, aimed at boosting jobs, skills, and growth.

The MNWRL would be an alternative route between Lichfield and High Legh, connecting the Midlands to Northern Powerhouse Rail, with the potential to add up to £70bn annually to the West Midlands and Greater Manchester economies and yield up to £24bn in revenue per year for the Exchequer.

Commissioned by the Mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, the project focused on plans for a new rail link, after former HS2 boss Sir David Higgins worked alongside Arup, Arcadis, EY, Skanska, Dragados, Addleshaw Goddard and Mace to assess three options to alleviate a congested West Coast Mainline and boost connectivity.

The group says the line could deliver 85% of the benefits that were originally envisioned for the now-cancelled HS2 Phase 2, but at 60-75% of the cost.

It has been deemed by the consortium as the “only suitable option for attracting private finance” and could save the taxpayer £2bn on costs from the HS2 Phase 2 cancellation. Land, powers and design work could be reused which were already secured through public investment.

Future congestion on the West Coast Main Line and M6 corridor – the most heavily-used freight corridor in the nation, would also be alleviated.

The recently published Juergen Maier review commissioned by the Labour Party on Rail and Urban Transport is used by the group to back the case for connecting the Midlands and the Northwest with a new line, warning the M6 corridor would collapse within a decade if no action is taken.

The report urges the government to establish a steering group to conduct a feasibility study and attract private investment, driving technical and economic solutions over the next six months.

Key goals include cost reduction, risk management, and faster delivery through private sector involvement.

Rt Hon. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The report is clear: if we fail to put in place a plan soon to fix rail capacity and connectivity between the North and the Midlands, the already-congested West Coast Main Line and M6 will become major barriers to economic growth in the UK.

“But there is good news for the Government. The report concludes that we do not have to revive HS2 to unlock those benefits. There is a viable option to build a new rail line between Lichfield and High Legh, connecting HS2 to Northern Powerhouse Rail, with almost all of the benefits of HS2 delivered quickly and crucially at a significantly lower cost.

“Doing nothing is not an option as demand for rail services on the West Coast Main Line is set to exceed capacity within a decade. We are ready to work with Government, colleagues in the West Midlands and the business community to build a railway fit for the 21st century. But we do need early decisions to end the uncertainty.”

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands: “This report confirms what we’ve been saying – additional rail capacity to and from the North is vital for the West Midlands. It’s about more than quicker journeys; it’s about connecting people, communities, and businesses to jobs and opportunities.”

“I’ll work with the government to ensure this happens, but we must also learn from successful rail systems around the world to deliver the best network and real value to the public. Without this extension, we will continue to be reliant on the West Coast mainline, which is already maxed out and impacting on the people of this region and wider. We need to free up capacity and we need to get this right – for our future and our economy.”

Sir David Higgins OBE, added: “Our review sets out a plan to get connectivity between the Midlands and the Northwest back on track. We don’t pretend that solving the rail challenges between these two places will be easy. We know it will be hard graft. What we need now is for the new government to work together with the business community and Combined Authorities – take the practical steps to make a new rail link a reality. We have conclusively shown that a new line can be built cheaper and faster – we now need to get on and deliver it.”

“Taking the time now to get these strategic decisions right would come at minimal cost but potentially enormous long-term benefit to the nation. Our future connectivity – and by extension, the economic and social health of our society for generations to come – depends on us making the right choices today.”