The mayors of Manchester and Liverpool have unveiled plans for a new railway connecting the two northern English cities, increasing pressure on the

Labour government to follow through on its investment promises.

During an event at the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotherham presented a proposal for a £17 billion ($23 billion) rail line. The current rail links between these two major metropolitan areas—England's third and fifth largest—are frequently disrupted by congestion on outdated Victorian-era infrastructure.

The mayors propose that the new railway be funded with money originally allocated for the cancelled Birmingham-to-Manchester leg of the HS2 high-speed rail project. That section of the line was scrapped last year by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

This move reflects a growing trend among regional leaders, particularly within the Labour Party, to push for greater autonomy over local infrastructure projects and challenge London's centralized control. Burnham and Rotherham are among those seeking to exert more influence on local investment decisions.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh acknowledged the importance of improving the Liverpool-Manchester rail link but noted that there is no singular pot of HS2 funds available for immediate use.

According to the prospectus, the proposed rail line could boost the combined Manchester-Liverpool economy, worth £150 billion, by an additional £7 billion annually.

“There will be real opportunities for people in Liverpool to work in Manchester and vice versa," said Rotherham. "It will effectively shrink the north-west and create a more integrated economic region.” Photo by Richard Kelly from Manchester, England, Wikimedia commons.