The UK government have outlined the next steps for the development of rail links between Manchester and Liverpool as part of the upcoming ‘Northern Powerhouse Rail’ plans, aiming to boost connectivity between more towns, citiesand rural areas.
Forming part of the Department for Transport‘s (DfT) wider Network North plans, which is receiving over £36 billion in funding, the next phase of the railway redevelopment will see journeys between Manchester and Liverpool massively improved.
Following meetings with local leaders and Northern MPs who expressed support for Northern Powerhouse Rail, the plans are also set to benefit the likes of Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport as well as the two cities’ main stations.
It’s estimated that an additional £12 billion in taxpayer money will be directed towards the overall Powerhouse project with a view to act as a “catalyst for economic growth across the North of England by transforming east-west transport links and better-connecting people to work, education and business opportunities.”
What does this look like on paper? Well, first and foremost, projections have it that train travel time between Manchester and Liverpool is set to be reduced from approximately 50 minutes to around just 35 if all goes to plan.
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A statement from DfT goes on to detail how this “will also mean passengers are able to ‘turn up and go’, knowing the next train will only be 10-15 minutes away.”
Moreover, it has been suggested that passenger capacity could also be trebled between the likes of Liverpool and Leeds, offering 2,100 extra seats per hour in each direction and, in turn, having a positive knock-on effect at other Northern stations. Mayor Andy Burnham also feels confident that discussions surrounding a Manchester underground are now also a possibility.
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With options also posed for the redesigns of both Manchester Piccadilly and the approach into Liverpool, these sound like real tangible changes we’ll genuinely be able to feel the impact of. Brilliant news – provided the plans stick, of course.
🚆"We have long argued for an underground option at Manchester Piccadilly and finally the door has been opened to it."
Today's announcement from the Transport Secretary is a breakthrough for Greater Manchester and Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Better still, as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail, places like Liverpool, Warrington and several towns east of the Pennines could also benefit from direct services to Manchester Airport, with journey times slashed by almost an hour and passengers from Leeds potentially seeing a 41-minute reduction.
Lord McLoughlin, Chair of Transport for the North, said of the latest plans: “We welcome the progress of further engagement with Northern political and business leaders. It’s essential that any final route is place-based and meets the ambitions of local leaders for their residents and businesses.
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“Northern Powerhouse Rail is a key cornerstone to how we transform the North for generations to come. We look forward to working with the government to realise our shared ambition for a rail network that the people and businesses of the North truly deserve.”
With long-term investment in the huge infrastructure having been boosted since it was initially outlined back in 2020, Northern Powerhouse Rail is slated to be finished any time between 2029 and 2040. It’s still a long way off and the HS2 saga has certainly taught us not to get carried away, but it’s a start.
Featured Images — Hugh Llewelyn (via Flickr)/ HS2/Bob Martin (via Flickr)/Wikimedia Commons
News
Remarkable Lake District rescue of dog missing for THREE WEEKS
Daisy Jackson
A dog who was missing for almost three WEEEKS in the Lake District has, miraculously, been rescued.
Little Teddy went missing on 2 August, disappearing from his owner on Helvellyn.
Volunteers from Keswick Mountain Rescue Team spent the following weeks searching for the scrappy dog, with one eventually hearing him barking from Dry Gill.
The poor dog had got stuck in the gill in a dangerous location that required a full team of seven to bring him to safety.
Remarkably, Teddy appeared to be uninjured, though he had lost quite a bit of weight after three weeks living wild on the fell.
His rescuers gave him a small amount of food before securing him in a rucksack and carrying him back to Swirls car park.
The whole rescue took around three and a half hours, when Teddy was reunited with his very relieved owner and taken to the vets.
Teddy making his way down from HelvellynTeddy the dog was part of a rescue mission in the Lake DistrictTeddy was rescued after three weeks missingCredit: Keswick Mountain Rescue
Keswick Mountain Rescue said: “The team are absolutely delighted to share this update, as the news of this missing dog had deeply affected so many people across our local community.
“A remarkable outcome after nearly three weeks on Helvellyn, and a huge well done to everyone who kept searching and never gave up on Teddy.”
The mountain rescue team is funded entirely through donations – you can use ‘Buy me a coffee’ to make a small donation HERE, or donate the normal way HERE.
Full list of road closures for Manchester Village Pride 2026
Emily Sergeant
The full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Village Pride this weekend have been released.
Manchester Village Pride is a beloved celebration of LGBTQ+ life in Manchester, known for bringing thousands of people into city centre every August bank holiday weekend for four fun-filled, glitter-covered, disco-driven days… and although 2026 may look a little different to usual, you can always count on the city to welcome everyone in.
Every year, the lineup offers a wide range of activities for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to join together and celebrate, as well as provide opportunities to advocate for equality, engage families and young people, and celebrate queer arts and culture.
This year’s event is set to kick off this Friday 28 August and round out on bank holiday Monday (31 August).
🏳️🌈 On Saturday [29 August], it's the #PrideParade so you'll see plenty of rainbows in the city centre.
To allow the parade to take place: – There will be road closures in place – Some buses may operate on diversion – Trams in the city centre may experience minor delays
And of course, for the celebrations to all take place as safely and seamlessly as possible, a number of road closures and restrictions will need to be put in place, and Manchester City Council has now published a list of everything you need to know.
It’s advised that anyone making their way into and around the city centre this weekend use other modes of transport – such as buses, trams, and trains.
But for those who need to drive, you’ll want to pay attention to this list before setting out on any journeys.
The full list of road closures for Manchester Village Pride 2026 has been released / Credit: The Manc Group | Supplied
Saturday 29 August
All roads in this list will be closed from 6am to 7pm:
Liverpool Road (Water Street to Deansgate)
Wollam Place (30m south of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road)
Potato Wharf (Castlefield Hotel entrance to Liverpool Road)
Old Medlock Street
Lower Byrom Street (40m north of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road)
Duke Street (Rice Street to Liverpool Road)
Stone Street (Liverpool Road to Bridgewater Street)
Barton Street (Bridgewater Street to Tonman Street)
Southern Street (Bridgewater Street to Liverpool Road)
Bridgewater Street (Collier Street to Deansgate)
Tonman Street (Liverpool Road to Longworth Street)
Saturday 29 August
All roads in this list will be closed from 9am to 7pm:
Deansgate (Trafford Street to Peter Street)
Quay Street (Little Quay Street to Deansgate)
Peter Street (Deansgate to Oxford Street)
Camp Street (Deansgate to Longworth Street)
St James Street (Deansgate to Longworth Street)
Jerusalem Place (Jacksons Row to Deansgate)
Marron Place (Jacksons Row to Deansgate)
Watson Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Mount Street (Windmill Street to Bootle Street)
Southmill Street (Windmill Street to Bootle Street)
Lower Mosley Street (Windmill Street to Oxford Street)
Oxford Street (Peter Street to Whitworth Street)
Chepstow Street (Great Bridgewater Street to Oxford Street)
Portland Street (Oxford Street to Abingdon Street)
Princess Street (Faulkner Street to Whitworth Street)
Whitworth Street (Beaver Street to Fairfield Street)
Samuel Ogden Street (Bombay Street to Whitworth Street)
Sackville Street (Bombay Street to Whitworth Street)
Fairfield Street (Whitworth Street to London Road)
Minshull Street (Fairfield Street to Aytoun Street)
Back Acton Street (Fairfield Street to Ebden Street)
Minshull Street (Fairfield Street to Ebden Street)
Bus lanes will also be suspended on Bridge Street from Gartside to New Bailey Street, Whitworth Street West from Deansgate to Albion Street, and Portland Street from Princess Street to Newton Street, on the Saturday (29 August) too – running from 6am to 7pm.
Danny Jones -
26th March 2024 
