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A new high-speed rail link between Manchester and Liverpool could create thousands of job opportunities for young people across the North West, according to regional leaders.

The proposed line, which could cut travel times between the two cities to just 20 minutes, is expected to generate up to 22,000 full or part time jobs during the construction phase alone, offering a major boost to employment in the region.

Local mayors say the project could deliver a £90 billion economic uplift to the area by 2040. The new railway is being promoted not just as a transport improvement but as a catalyst for jobs, investment and long-term prosperity.

For students and young job seekers, the project promises opportunities across a wide range of sectors; from engineering and construction to planning, logistics and digital infrastructure. With construction potentially starting in the early 2030s, it could provide long-term employment prospects for students entering the workforce in the next few years.

The line would connect Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly. It forms part of the wider Northern Arc; a vision to create a powerful economic corridor across the North West.

The two mayors are urging the current government to commit to the project fully and immediately.

They argue that early investment will help secure the future of the skilled workforce developed during the HS2 programme, which lost momentum after the 2023 cancellation of HS2 Phase 2 by the Conservative government. Following that cancellation, £17 billion was earmarked for the Liverpool–Manchester link.

Announcing the plans, the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “For too long, such major infrastructure projects in the UK have been delivered in a top-down way. We want to work hand-in-hand with the government to plan and deliver this railway from the ground up, enabling us to maintain our growth momentum for Greater Manchester.”

Steve Rotheram, the mayor of Liverpool City Region, also commented, saying: “Two centuries ago, the Liverpool-Manchester Railway changed the world, kickstarting the railway age and powering a revolution in trade, travel and opportunity. Today, we have the chance to do it again. Our new line forms part of a wider vision to unlock £90bn of economic growth and 500,000 new homes, the kind of transformation our region and our country desperately needs.”

“We’re putting forward a serious, deliverable plan that does things differently; developing plans at a regional level instead of a top-down approach. Not cap in hand, but shoulder to shoulder with the government.”

“We’re offering a new way of doing things: faster, fairer and better value. With the right backing, we can get spades in the ground in the early 2030s and deliver the world-class railway we deserve,” added Mr Rotherham.

Mr Rotheram and Mr Burnham also highlighted how the line could rival major projects like London’s Elizabeth Line, by freeing up local rail services, improving regional connections and bringing over 500,000 extra people within a 30-minute journey of either city centre.

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