Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham believes the government is open to a potential alternative to HS2 for Manchester.

The mayor has campaigned for a new rail connection between Greater Manchester and the West Midlands since the start of 2024, just months after then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak decided to cancel the northern leg of the high-speed rail project in Manchester, its planned terminus.

Mr Burnham commissioned a review into connectivity between Manchester and Birmingham last year, which recommended a series of improvements.

The 'best solution', according to the mayor, is a new line between Handsacre Junction in Staffordshire — where the first phase of HS2 will end — and High Legh in Cheshire, where another new line from Manchester to Liverpool could be built.

Mr Burnham and his Merseyside mayoral counterpart Steve Rotherham have talked up a line between their cities since last spring, proposing it would stop at a new Liverpool Central station, revamped Warrington Bank Quay, Manchester Airport, and underground Manchester Piccadilly.

The review into Manchester-to-Midlands links was published a year ago, but the government has not yet committed to the plan. However, the mayor has been encouraged by 'positive noises' recently.

"I am hearing more positive noises that the Department for Transport (DfT) accepts there has to be an alternative to HS2," he told BBC Radio Manchester on Thursday (March 27).

"HS2 is not coming back. There's a need still for a line between the west midlands and north west. We cannot rely on the west coast mainline and M6 into the rest of the 21st century.

"I am hearing the Department for Transport has accepted that argument. I think we are winning the argument but I think it will be in the spending review and infrastructure strategy which will see if we have got it over the line."

The government is still keeping cards close to its chest, on its rail plans, but a DfT spokesperson said it is 'currently reviewing the position we have inherited on HS2, and will set out next steps in due course'.

They added: "Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain, and we are absolutely committed to improving rail connectivity across the North and working with devolved leaders, as set out in the government's manifesto."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands ministers are sympathetic to worries about the capacity of existing links between Manchester and Birmingham, suggesting the door may still be open for the mayor's proposal.

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