As a company deeply rooted in the evolution and prosperity of our region, Merseyside Acme believes wholeheartedly in the future potential of Liverpool and its neighbouring cities. That future, quite simply, begins with better connections, and none more urgent than the Liverpool-Manchester rail corridor.
Today, Metro Mayors Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham are in Westminster, not just to present a case, but to push forward a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Backed by new research and a growing coalition of business leaders, civic institutions and transport planners, their proposal for a new high-speed rail line between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly is more than an infrastructure upgrade; it’s a blueprint for rebalancing the UK economy.
For too long, Northern cities have been promised transformation while London continues to receive the lion’s share of transport investment. Now, with the vision of a Northern Arc, a revitalised economic belt from the Mersey to the Pennines, this proposal has become more than a regional plea. It’s a national necessity.
Reimagining Regional Connectivity
The current state of rail travel between Liverpool and Manchester is simply unfit for the 21st century. Despite being just 35 miles apart, average journey times exceed 50 minutes, a dismal reflection of outdated infrastructure and inconsistent service. At present, only one train an hour links Liverpool directly to Manchester Airport. This lack of capacity doesn’t just inconvenience commuters; it stifles investment, frustrates logistics, and limits cultural and professional exchange.
The proposed new line, including a bold new Liverpool gateway station and stops at Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport would cut journey times to just 20 minutes. More than that, it would liberate capacity across the existing network, allowing local and regional services to operate more efficiently.
Liverpool at the Centre of the Northern Arc
The wider vision is transformative. The “Northern Arc” would act as a super-regional economic engine, linking the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire, Warrington, and Greater Manchester, an area of over 5 million people and a combined GVA of £150 billion. This is not just good economics, it’s good governance.
Investing in the North doesn’t require fantasy projections. We already know the talent is here. The industries, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative tech, and logistics, are thriving. What they lack is modern infrastructure to match their ambition. With £15 billion in projected economic uplift, this rail link would not only accelerate growth; it would anchor the North West as a critical innovation and investment hub.
An Equal Share of Progress
For Liverpool, the benefits are profound. A high-speed connection to Manchester and beyond opens the door to faster freight movement through the Port of Liverpool, job creation in the construction and tech sectors, and an influx of new businesses who no longer need to choose between Manchester or London.
It would also give thousands more residents access to cross-city employment, better aligning workforce potential with job availability. It means young professionals won’t feel the pressure to relocate south to succeed. It means inward investment will no longer be directed away from our city by virtue of poor connections. Learn more about Liverpool regeneration in our guide.
Why It Matters for the UK as a Whole
This is about more than trains and travel times. It’s about unlocking productivity, reducing regional inequality, and making the UK economy genuinely inclusive. The cost of this line, compared to the now-defunct HS2 southern extension, is significantly lower, and yet, the return on investment could be far greater. Unlike speculative mega-projects, the Liverpool-Manchester corridor is real, measurable, and needed right now.
As stewards of Liverpool’s growth story, we at Merseyside Acme fully support the Metro Mayors’ unified push and call on the government to act without delay. Let us not squander the opportunity or the £17 billion that was already earmarked under Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 plans.
The Road — or Rail — Ahead
This project is about dignity. It’s about giving the North the infrastructure it has earned, not begged for. With smart stations, shorter travel times, and expanded capacity, this is not just a rail link, it’s a link to opportunity.
Let Liverpool lead the charge in redefining what a connected North can look like. At Merseyside Acme, we’re ready. The question is: will Westminster keep pace with our ambition?
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