Downtown in Business has welcomed this weeks announcement of significant government investment into rail infrastructure, including the long-awaited Northern Power Rail programme and a new high-speed link between Liverpool and Manchester.
The organisation, which has campaigned for over a decade for better connectivity across the North, described the announcement as “hugely positive”—but warned that the region has heard similar promises before and that delivery must now happen at pace.
Downtown in Business has also expressed disappointment and concern over reports suggesting the new high-speed line may not be delivered until the 2040s. Business leaders say such a long timeline risk squandering a once-in-a-generation opportunity for rapid economic growth, increased inward investment, and improved productivity. Delaying the project into the distant future, they argue, would leave the North at a competitive disadvantage for another decade or more—just as global regions accelerate their own modern transport systems.
Frank McKenna, Chief Executive of Downtown in Business, said: “It’s fantastic to finally see some ambition from Westminster. Northern Power Rail and a fast Liverpool–Manchester line are not ‘nice-to-haves’—they’re the absolute minimum if the North is going to compete, grow, and deliver for UK plc.
But let’s be blunt: we’ve had plenty of glossy announcements over the years. What we need now is urgency. Put the shovels in the ground, get the contracts moving, and deliver this programme in years—not decades.”
McKenna added that improved connectivity will unlock new opportunities for business, talent, and investment: “This is a real chance to transform the North’s economy. Better connectivity means more jobs, more investment, and a far more productive region. The government deserves credit for recognising that—but the real test is delivery. If this slips into the 2040s, it will be a huge, missed opportunity for the North and for the UK economy. We need pace. We need certainty. And we need delivery.”
Downtown in Business will continue to work with government, combined authorities, local councils, and private-sector partners to ensure the new rail plans maximise economic impact and are delivered with the urgency the region deserves.
