Major UK city on brink of getting first ever underground station

An exciting new could be on the way for the which would connect two major cities. A new railway line between and Liverpool could transform the north west's railways with passengers able to get the kind of service enjoyed by Londoners. The fast trains would be regular, running every 10 minutes which would significantly reduce journey times.

There would be an underground station at Piccadilly which would free up space for hundreds of passenger and freight trains across the north. Manchester Airport would also see a new interchange introduced, reports .

Andy Burnham and other political and business leaders in the region claim a new to Liverpool railway express line could help boost the UK economy by a staggering £90bn by 2040 and create 22,000 jobs during construction.

They are now lobbying the Government to back their plans.

They write: "This isn't another 'big rail' vanity project. It's a practical, deliverable plan focused on people, place and prosperity. We're not turning up cap in hand.

"We're offering leadership, solutions, and the chance to pilot a new model for infrastructure delivery - one that's rooted in local knowledge and national interest."

This comes after the northern leg of the was cancelled as costs soared.

The plans for the new £17bn consist of a 10-year infrastructure strategy.

Trains would travel from Piccadilly to the airport, onto Warrington Bank Quay and a new station at Liverpool Gateway, before following one of two potential routes, including a tunnel from the eastern outskirts of Liverpool, into Lime Street in just 32 minutes.

It would bring around 500,000 people within 30 minutes of either Manchester or Liverpool city centres.

Speaking to the Evening News, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: "We all live with the disruption on a daily basis. This is Victorian infrastructure and it is congested and we know that in the city of , trains struggle to get through.

"Quite simply, the outdated nature of the rail infrastructure as well as its capacity constraints mean that the people in the of England have had to put up with a second-class rail service. We don't accept that for our residents.

"We will fight until we've got the first class service that people here deserve. And that requires a new line, a fast line, going from the investment zone in Liverpool city centre through two airports and a fast-growing town to another investment zone in city centre. It's like the Elizabeth line for the ."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain and drive economic growth. That's why we're investing in the and Midlands, and delivering transformational projects, such as the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade.

"We are currently reviewing the position we have inherited on Northern Powerhouse Rail and , and will set out next steps in due course."

The new train line would bring major benefits to those in the north with construction plans that could begin by the early 2030s if things go ahead.