Northern Hub
The original proposals included an additional two through platforms at Manchester Piccadilly station which would have allowed a further four trains per hour through the Castlefield corridor, however this was officially cancelled in May 2023.[9][10] Support for the scheme was vociferous from civic and business leaders, due to the high benefit-to-cost ratio, and from politicians, such as George Osborne; but was also criticised for being incremental and only improving the rail network in Northern England to "where it should have been a decade ago".[11] The scheme had a benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) of £4 for every £1 invested - double that of Crossrail in London and the proposed High Speed 2 project which in October 2013 had BCRs of £2.10 and £2.30 respectively.[15] The Northern Hub was proposed in February 2010 to resolve problems around Manchester city centre that restricted route capacity and caused delays.At Manchester Airport station a new platform was built creating extra capacity and access for direct services from other cities in Northern England.Burnley Manchester Road station will receive a £2.3 million upgrade before the reinstatement of a direct rail service to Victoria via the re-opened Todmorden Curve in 2015.The Manchester Museum of Science and Industry management objected to the scheme and an inquiry was set up in 2014 to investigate potential damage to the historic structure.[49] In June 2014, George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer stated his vision to see improved transport links between Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds to increase economic productivity.
Manchester city centreManchester VictoriaNorthern EnglandManchestersteering partnershipNetwork RailDeutsche BahnFirst TransPennine ExpressNorthern RailEast Midlands TrainsCrossCountryFreightlinerDepartment for TransportTransport for Greater ManchesterMerseytravelLiverpoolWarrington CentralManchester PiccadillyManchester Victoria stationManchester AirportOrdsall ChordManchester Oxford RoadGeorge Osbornebenefit-to-cost ratioCrossrailHigh Speed 2High Speed 3Arriva Rail Northroute capacityYorkshireEast MidlandsTrafford ParkNewcastleTransPennine ExpressManchester Airport stationHuytonRoby stationsBurnley Manchester Road stationDore and Totley railway stationPenninesHuddersfieldDewsburyProposed railway electrification in Great BritainManchester to Liverpool lineClass 319Liverpool to Wigan LineManchester to Preston LinePreston to Blackpool NorthHuddersfield LineJonathan ReynoldsTranspennine Route UpgradeLiverpool Lime StreetBradfordHalifaxChesterClass 142Class 156North EastClass 350Class 350sClass 319sManchester Liverpool Roadlisted buildingManchester Museum of Science and IndustryNorthern PowerhouseNorthern Powerhouse RailBBC NewsThe IndependentSheffield StarYouTubeThe Independent on SundayCamden HighlineCamp Hill lineEast West RailNorthumberland LineSouth Wales MetroElectrificationBolton–WiganEast Kilbride lineKettering–SheffieldWelsh ValleysBeam ParkBeaulieu ParkBlyth BebsideBedlingtonBirmingham Curzon StreetBirmingham InterchangeButetownCambridge SouthDarlaston James BridgeKings HeathMoseley VillageNewshamOld Oak CommonPineapple RoadWhite RoseWillenhallWinslowWixamsAberdare–Hirwaun LineAberdeen CrossrailBakerloo line extensionBarrow Hill lineBristol Airport Rail LinkBrentford branch lineBolton–Bury lineBordon Light RailwayCarmarthen–Aberystwyth lineCirencester branch lineConsett–Newcastle lineCoventry Very Light RailCranleigh lineCrossrail 2 (London)Crossrail GlasgowDarlaston LoopElectric SpineCoventry–Leamington SpaCoventry–NuneatonLeamington Spa–Aynho JunctionBedford–CambridgeFawley branch lineFleetwood branch lineFormartine and Buchan RailwayMetroWest (Bristol)Hall Farm CurveHeathfield Branch Line