Our vision for travel and the economy

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Manchester Hub Square One The 4 Travis Street M1 2NY Transforming rail in the North

networkrail.co.uk/north 01

Transforming rail in the North

Over the next 20 years we want to change the way people travel in the North. We want rail to be the first choice of passengers, business and freight. Our proposals will put the infrastructure in place to allow: > 700 more trains to run between the major towns and cities in the North every day > 3.5m more passengers every year > Quicker journey times > £530m of targeted investment to help the North continue to thrive

More people choosing rail What we want to do Rail in the North has been transformed over the We want to attract even more passengers to the last ten years. More and more of you choose to railway, by improving the infrastructure so that we travel by rail to get to work, to school, to the shops, can accommodate: to visit family and just to get away. With more • people in the North using rail, we have already 3.5 million more passengers every year made major investments including: • 700 more trains every day

• Upgrading the to allow • 27,000 more miles covered every day. faster services than ever before • Improving freight links to major ports How to do it • Building a third platform at Manchester Value for money improvements to the network can Airport station. help us achieve this, including:

And services across the North are better than ever: • Installing new track

• 9 out of 10 services are on time • Building new viaducts

• 9 out of 10 First TransPennine services are • Upgrading stations on time. • Building new platforms In addition to cross-north services, Virgin Trains, East Coast and provide fast, direct • Electrification. trains from to cities in the North, whilst Arriva Trains Wales and CrossCountry connect the North with other regions.

Freight is also thriving, with 6 0% increase in the ten years to 2008 meaning operators like DB Schenker, GB Railfreight, Freightliner and DRS play an increasingly important role in the economy of the North. 02 03

Achieving our ambitions

Most of the railway in the North was built in the 19th Century by a number of competing companies. Unlike today, there was no single company like Network Rail responsible for planning the rail network.

In the 1960s and 1970s, with fewer people travelling by rail, many lines in the North were axed. However, more people now choose to travel by rail than at any time since 1945, and increasing amounts of freight are transported across the North.

This growth is expected to continue over the next 20 to 30 years and beyond.

The challenge The solution The benefits Our partners in this work As a result the rail network in the North Working with our industry partners we have • Major improvements to Manchester These proposals can bring major benefits • Run trains every 15 minutes in > Department for Transport now suffers from some major problems: identified the best value for money Victoria to restore it to its former right across the North, allowing for Manchester between Victoria, Oxford improvements that can deliver faster, more glory. It would become a major improved services between towns and Road, Piccadilly and Manchester > First TransPennine Express • Not enough track space, severely frequent and more reliable services. interchange station for the North, with cities including the potential for: Airport stations > Northern Rail limiting the number of trains that can These include: vastly improved facilities for run every hour – including a major passengers • New inter-regional/trans Pennine • Connect north east Manchester into > DB Schenker bottleneck in Manchester • Building a brand new section of railway services, providing better links across the local rail network by connections at Ordsall, in Salford. This will mean that: • New platforms at stations such as the North beyond Victoria. > Greater Manchester Passenger • Tangled lines at junctions and on the Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Transport Executive way into stations, which slow down - Trains between Airport and Rochdale • Faster services across the North And there could also be major benefits for > The Northern Way trains and cause delay as trains weave and , Newcastle, , between , , freight services, including the ability to: across from one line to another Rochdale and elsewhere across the • Building new tracks between Leeds and Manchester and Manchester Airport; North will not need to reverse at Manchester; and Manchester; and between Sheffield, Leeds, Hull and • Double capacity into the Trafford Park • A lack of places for fast trains to Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool and Manchester will allow the Humber, and the North East freight terminals for trains carrying overtake stopping services, making fast trains to overtake stopping containers journey times longer. - Trains will be able to stop at all services. • New direct services from Bradford, three of the main central Halifax and Chester to Manchester • Provide access to potential new In April 2009 The Northern Way published Manchester stations: Piccadilly, This is in addition to the plans we are Airport container terminals a major study concluding that removing Oxford Road and Victoria already working on to electrify the line barriers such as these was vital for the • Even fewer delays to services right • Maintain the current capability for between Liverpool and Manchester via other types of freight commodities. future economic prosperity of the North. - New rail connections will be made Newton-le-Willows; Liverpool to Wigan across the north of . possible, for example between and; Blackpool, Preston and Bolton to On key commuter corridors the opportunity Bradford, Halifax and the Calder Manchester. Valley and Manchester Airport would be created to: • Provide more commuter and local services every hour, throughout the day

• Make commuter and local services faster than ever before 04 05

Leeds & Liverpool, Merseyside & Cheshire

The renaissance of Leeds over the last 20 years has made it one of Liverpool, the 2008 European of Culture. the economic powerhouses of the North.

On the fast track Bringing you more Well connected Direct, 125 mph trains to London, York and But east-west connections across the Liverpool already has some of the best • Journey times between Liverpool and Cheshire Newcastle give Leeds unrivalled north-south still need to improved. Our proposals could see six trains every train services in the country. Manchester to be slashed to 33 minutes. Chester is set to benefit from a train every connections, with Metro’s local transport hour from to both Leeds and half an hour to and from Manchester links helping people to get around the city. We want to allow for: Manchester, offering more connections Liverpool sees trains arrive from London in throughout the day, as well as trains just over two hours, is well connected How we can do it • Six trains every hour between Leeds, across the North. running through to Leeds and Manchester Network Rail favours a dedicated high speed across Lancashire and Yorkshire and sees a Airport. line to Leeds and is undertaking a detailed Huddersfield, Manchester People in could be able to get a stunning 95. 4% of Merseyrail’s local To meet the challenge, we need to make a study into the business case for this. train in either direction every 15 minutes. services arriving on time. And as a major number of key improvements to the rail This would also provide an opportunity for • Journey times between Leeds and infrastructure, including: Manchester as quick as 43 minutes. UK port, rail freight is key to Liverpool. these trains to run from Manchester through Our proposals will make it possible for trains Chester and beyond to North Wales. Getting you into the city from and Halifax to • New electrified lines between Liverpool Meeting the challenge How we can do this go directly to and from Liverpool and and Manchester via Newton-le-Willows Northwich could get twice as many trains Thousands of people travel into Leeds to allow fast trains to overtake Manchester Airport. With a thriving retail and commercial throughout the day, with a train to to work, shop and study every day. To do this we need to make some major stopping services sector, and world class sport and culture, Manchester every 30 minutes. improvements to the rail infrastructure, Hull & Humber more and more people are choosing to • Resolving the major bottleneck of lines The rebuilt main station was completed including: We want to make it possible to get from Hull Knutsford could see a semi-fast service to travel to and from Liverpool by train. in 2002, and now Network Rail and to destinations like Manchester and in the Manchester area. Manchester throughout the day, and Metro are seeking to build a new • Building new sections of track between Liverpool more quickly, with better We need to keep on providing the train In the longer term, we also want to see a towns such as Wilmslow could have an southern entrance. Leeds and Manchester, to allow faster connections to other destinations across the services Liverpool needs and wants. We new high speed line reducing the journey extra service to Manchester Airport every trains to overtake stopping services Expanded parking and facilities to turn North and more services to and from Hull want to make it possible for: times between Liverpool and London. hour, and direct trains for connections at trains around at Micklefield will also • Resolving the major bottleneck of lines every hour throughout the day. Stoke-on-Trent . • Trains to run every 15 minutes to Merseyside mean commuting into Leeds becomes in the Manchester area York Manchester and Yorkshire The improvements we are proposing Crewe is already a major interchange for easier than ever before. Our proposals will make it possible to get trains across the country and could get • Improvements on the Calder Valley. • Passengers to reach Liverpool direct would mean Liverpool South Parkway, to York more quickly than ever before from Widnes and Birchwood could have a train another direct train every hour to Liverpool and and from more destinations, including Manchester Airport. Bradford and Halifax to Liverpool and Manchester every 30 Airport, and give better connections to minutes throughout the day. other destinations across the North.

Key aspirations: > Six trains every hour, all day, from Key aspirations: > Four trains per hour between Huddersfield to Leeds and Manchester Liverpool and Manchester > Reduced journey times across the Pennines > Journey times slashed to 33 minutes 06 07

Greater Manchester Lancashire

Manchester is thriving and we want to help attract more jobs and business to the city.

Getting you there faster Meeting the challenge How we can do this Network Rail’s West Coast Main Line We want to make a step change to make We are proposing to achieve these aims by Greater Manchester Getting the train from Bolton will be better People in Preston already have faster trains upgrade means you can already travel sure that rail overtakes the car as the best resolving the bottleneck in the Manchester People in Salford could see more trains than ever. You will get to Manchester on from London and Scotland than ever before between Manchester and London in way to get to and from Manchester. area. Our proposals include: stopping at Salford Central under our electrified lines and have better thanks to Network Rail’s West Coast Main just over two hours. The city also has an proposals, and by 2014 you will see major connections to towns such as Preston Line upgrade. You could now get two extra excellent Metrolink tram service provided by We want to provide the ability to: • Building two new through platforms improvements to Salford Crescent station. and Wigan. trains every hour to Manchester, as well (15 and 16) at Manchester Piccadilly having the lines to and from Wigan and the Greater Manchester Passenger • Run six trains every hour between In Wigan you could have two extra trains to Lancashire Manchester electrified. Transport Executive (GMPTE). Manchester and Leeds • Linking Piccadilly and Victoria stations Manchester every hour, with journey times We want to work with other organisations to directly via a new curve at Ordsall slashed by up to 12 minutes. A weekend in Blackpool will be easier, with Manchester’s two major stations provide • Cut journey times from Manchester to help more people in Lancashire to choose to connections right across the North, and over better connections from cities across the Liverpool and to Leeds and beyond • Restoring Manchester Victoria to its Rochdale commuters could see an extra two travel by train. the coming years, electrification will see North, and electrification making it possible former glory and making it a major trains every hour, making it easier for you to faster journeys to and from Liverpool. • Provide more direct trains and If you live in , you could get to to run more trains to the seaside. interchange station get to Bradford, Manchester and the Airport, better connections to destinations Manchester much more quickly via and to Liverpool. across the North • Building a fourth platform at Todmorden and Rochdale, if a new link Bringing you to the city centre Manchester Airport. If you use Marple and Rose Hill you could is built. • Make it possible to get trains have more peak time trains to choose from. Commuters, students and shoppers are between Manchester Piccadilly In the longer term, we also want to see a And people in Blackburn and Darwen could And if you get the train from Altrincham you amongst the thousands of people who travel and Victoria stations. new high speed line slashing the journey choose from twice as many off peak trains if could get more trains across Manchester. in and out of Manchester every day. times between Manchester and London. new tracks were built to let trains pass one another. With the roads into the city getting busier, Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge more and more people are choosing to travel passengers could choose from more and We are working with local stakeholders to in by tram and by rail, so rush hour trains into quicker trains across the North to identify funding for these schemes which will the city are becoming very crowded. destinations such as Bolton, Chester, Leeds, give you back your free time. Manchester, Southport, Warrington and Wigan.

Key aspirations: By 2020 we want Manchester to have: > Quicker journeys to and from other major cities in the north > More frequent trains to towns and cities across the region > Two top class major stations 08 09

Newcastle and the North East Sheffield &

Newcastle, home to the Great North Run and the Tyne Bridge. Sheffield, historically the home of Steel, is increasingly becoming a centre for education, investment and innovation.

Where we are Meeting the challenge How we can do this Where we are Meeting the challenge How we can do this Newcastle already has 125mph trains to We want to provide the opportunity for: To meet the challenge we are proposing Sheffield is already a well-linked city, with We want to meet this demand by making Meeting the challenge for Sheffield and from London and Edinburgh, as well to make some major improvements to the trains to East Anglia, the East Midlands, it possible for: would include: as the top class Nexus Metro system. • New direct trains to cities like Leeds, rail infrastructure, including: West & North Yorkshire and across the Manchester and Liverpool Pennines, as well as to and from London. • Two more trains every hour throughout • New sections of railway between As a major draw for business, tourism and • Building new sections of track on the day to and from Manchester and Sheffield and Manchester at , leisure, it is vital that Newcastle continues • Faster trains to Manchester and beyond the Pennines route, to allow faster was given a major Liverpool Grindleford and Dore Junction to to improve and strengthen its connections. on the North TransPennine route trains to overtake stopping services upgrade in 2002 and thousands of people allow faster trains to overtake travel in and out of the city on a daily basis. • Quicker journeys to Manchester Piccadilly stopping services Network Rail wants to improve inter city • More trains to Manchester Airport • Resolving the major bottleneck of lines services to help the city’s economy then ever before in the Manchester area. Sheffield’s Supertram services, along with • Electrification of the • Resolving the major bottleneck of lines continue to grow. local , help people get around the to and from London. in the Manchester area. • Better links with Leeds, Huddersfield North East and Manchester. city, and these services are co-ordinated Middlesbrough could get faster more by the South Yorkshire Passenger frequent trains across the North. Transport Executive.

Passengers in Darlington stand to benefit An extra train to and from London was from Network Rail’s proposals, as does introduced in December 2009, but trains Durham , with more trains every hour to and from other towns and cities in the throughout the day, and quicker journeys North are frequently crowded as more and to other towns and cities across the North. more people choose to travel by train.

Key aspirations: > Faster and more frequent journeys Key aspirations: > Extra trains throughout the day to destinations across the north > Faster journey times > Electrification to London 10 11

Freight

Freight on Britain’s railways increased by 6 0% in the ten years to 2008, whilst motorways like the M62 have become increasingly congested. This means rail freight has become a vital part of the economy of the North.

Meeting the challenge Our strategy How we can do this We’ve become more reliable and more We want to get more freight onto the To do this we need to make some major efficient over the past few years so more railways as part of our commitment to improvements to the rail infrastructure, and more businesses have chosen to move keeping business moving across the North. including: their goods by rail. To help this we want to provide the • Building new sections of track between Lo rries packed onto roads like the M62 will capability to: Leeds and Manchester, to allow faster fuel the demand for rail freight further. trains to overtake stopping services We need to continue to improve to supply • Double the number of paths from the this demand. West Coast Main Line to Trafford Park • Resolving the major bottleneck of lines meeting the 2030 freight forecast in the Manchester area.

• Make it possible to move the new larger (9’6”) containers across the North’s strategic freight network and to and from the North’s major ports

• Maintain freight capacity from between Lancashire and the Peak District and beyond

• Allow hourly freight trains on the Chat Moss line to serve developments at Port Salford and Parkside.

Key aspirations: Major improvements for freight across the north > Potential for double the number of services to the Trafford Park freight terminal > Allowance made for future growth at Parkside and Port Salford 12

Next steps

The proposals here form part of our plans to provide faster, more frequent and more reliable services across the North by 2020.

Over the next two years, we will continue This is in addition to the major Have your say to work with the rail industry and other improvements we are already stakeholders to develop our proposals in working on before 2014, including: If you want to have your say, on any of more detail. these issues you can visit: • Longer platforms across the North networkrail.co.uk/north We want your support in making the case for prioritising and funding • Line speed improvements between these proposals, so that the North Leeds and Manchester can start reaping the benefits. • Electrification of the: Liverpool to Manchester via Newton-le-Williams; Wider work Liverpool and Wigan; and Blackpool, Bolton and Preston to Manchester lines. We are also working with our industry partners on a major study of all northern A number of Government studies are also routes – our Route Utilisation Strategy under way in the north of England looking (RUS) – that will look at the next 30 years at priorities across all forms of transport as and more. part of Developing a Sustainable Transport Strategy (DaSTS).

Our new lines studies on high speed rail, both sides of the Pennines, look to the longer term of rail in the North.

Timeline JUNE 2009 AUGUST 2009 JANUARY 2010 SPRING 2010 SUMMER 2010 AUTUMN 2010 THROUGHOUT 2010 SUMMER 2011 SUMMER 2012 AUTUMN 2012 AUTUMN 2013 2013 2014-16 2014

Initial industry view on Network Rail’s first The Manchester Hub Next Network Rail New Industry view of initial Draft industry view of all Government’s Network Rail’s initial Government rail Network Rail’s final Final Office of Rail Liverpool to Manchester Liverpool to Wigan, and Network Rail’s planning ahead for part of the case for Rail Study completed. Lines (high speed) options for rail northern routes over the Developing a Strategic Business Plan strategy for 2014 – Strategic Business Plan Regulation (ORR) electrification complete. Blackpool, Bolton and improvements as a 2014 – 2019 (Control New (high speed) study published. improvements 2014 – next 30 years (Northern Sustainable Transport for 2014 – 2019 (CP5) 2019 (High Level for 2014 – 2019 (CP5) decision on rail Preston to Manchester result of the Northern Period 5) and beyond Lines published. 2019 (CP5) published. RUS) published. System (DaSTS) published. Output Specification, or published. improvement funding electrification complete. Hub Rail Study published. studies undertaken. HLOS), and published for 2014 – 2019 (CP5). potentially begins. its 30 year rail strategy.