Andy Burnham’s underground Metrolink tunnels will be ‘looked at’ by Rachel Reeves in major step forward
Andy Burnham’s plans for Metrolink tunnels have taken a major step forward after the Chancellor committed to ‘looking at’ the proposal.
The mayor announced his intention to open three city centre tunnels for trains and trams last summer, hoping to open them by 2050. The project does not have the funding required to start construction, but Mr Burnham has instructed Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to begin initial prep work.
However, Mr Burnham’s subterranean dreams took a big step to becoming reality this week with the government’s Northern Powerhouse Rail announcement. Ministers have committed to constructing a Liverpool-Manchester railway line, and promised to analyse the economic benefits of an underground Piccadilly station, set to cost several billion pounds.
Three tunnels are planned to run from a hub of an underground Piccadilly station, a proposal that will be seriously examined by the government, Rachel Reeves said on Wednesday (January 14).
“Of course, we’ll look at all proposals from Andy [Burnham], from Steve Rotherham, from my mayor, Tracy Brabin, in West Yorkshire,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service when asked if the underground review will assess Metrolink tunnels.
She added: “We have committed £45 billion. Just over £1 billion is now already unlocked, to start purchasing the land for these new rail lines, and to do the detailed development work, but no one should be in any doubt about our commitment to the North of England and Northern Powerhouse Rail.
“We will work with our mayors and local people, to make sure that this really delivers everything I know it can for the North.”
For the last decade, leaders have argued that a surface station would significantly limit Greater Manchester’s future growth potential.
A 2022 Manchester council report estimated a scheme to run HS2 on a viaduct would prevent 14,000 new jobs opening in the city and cause a £333m economic loss by 2050.
It’s thought a final report will be released in July, with construction on the train line not set to begin until 2033. It could open in 2037, but officials also indicated it may be in the 2040s.