Active Announced in the King's Speech on 13 May 2026. 35 events
Threads / Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill / Timeline
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Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill

The King's Speech 2026 rail infrastructure bill, formally the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill, intended to unlock Northern Powerhouse Rail capacity into Manchester Piccadilly via Manchester Airport.

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2026

14 events
13 May 2026 | Policy paper British Transport Police Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee Department for Transport Network Rail Office of Rail and Road Regulatory Policy Committee Transport Committee Transport Focus Context · primary home: Tackling State Threats Bill linked direct

The King's Speech 2026 – Background Briefing Notes (PDF)

Why linked: King's Speech 2026 Background Briefing Notes explicitly names Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill as a legislative priority

The full PDF of the King's Speech 2026 background briefing notes from the Prime Minister's Office, containing dedicated section on the Railways and Passenger Benefits Bill (p.75) setting out the rationale for establishing Great British Railways.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
13 May 2026 | Policy paper Department for Transport linked commitment

King's Speech announces Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill

Why linked: The King's Speech 2026 and official briefing notes announce the Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill as part of the government's legislative programme.

The King's Speech 2026 rail infrastructure bill, formally the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill, intended to unlock Northern Powerhouse Rail capacity into Manchester Piccadilly via Manchester Airport.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ The King's Speech 2026: background briefing not… (129pp)
27 Apr 2026 | Other Public Accounts Committee linked direct

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) — Public Accounts Committee — 2026-04-27

Why linked: Public Accounts Committee formal meeting on Northern Powerhouse Rail (27 April 2026) - parliamentary scrutiny of value for money

Event type: Formal meeting (oral evidence session) | Committee: Public Accounts Committee | Inquiry: Northern Powerhouse Rail | Starts: 2026-04-27T14:00:00+00:00 | Ends: 2026-04-27T17:00:00+00:00 | Location: The Grimond Room, Portcullis House | Status: completed

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
20 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Transport linked direct

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, to publish her Department’s economic forecast on the impact of Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Liverpool–Manchester Railway on (a) regional productivity, (b) labour market access and (c) job and skills creatio

Why linked: Written question on DfT economic forecast impact of Northern Powerhouse Rail - parliamentary scrutiny of appraisal

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, to publish her Department’s economic forecast on the impact of Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Liverpool–Manchester Railway on (a) regional productivity, (b) labour market access and (c) job and skills creatio

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
20 Mar 2026 | Other Public Accounts Committee linked direct

Northern Powerhouse Rail

Why linked: Parliament research material on Northern Powerhouse Rail (March 2026) directly scrutinising the programme and Bill.

Since 2014, successive governments have acknowledged the limitations of rail infrastructure in the North of England. Several large cities - including Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield - are poorly served by transport connections. The Northern Powerhouse Rail programme is …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
19 Mar 2026 | Written question Department for Transport linked direct

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in what month and year her Department expects to make a decision on whether to proceed with any developments to the Northern Powerhouse Rail route referred to in the Answer of 26 February 2026 to Question 10714

Why linked: Written question on timing of decision to proceed with Northern Powerhouse Rail developments - parliamentary scrutiny

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in what month and year her Department expects to make a decision on whether to proceed with any developments to the Northern Powerhouse Rail route referred to in the Answer of 26 …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
11 Mar 2026 | Research Department for Transport linked direct

Northern Powerhouse Rail

Why linked: Value-for-money report on Northern Powerhouse Rail - departmental assessment of programme deliverability and strategic fit

Northern Powerhouse Rail’s success is dependent on better cross-government working and stronger ties to the government’s economic strategy. Report type: value_for_money | Departments: ['Department for Transport'] | Topics: ['Business and industry', 'Economic growth', 'Infrastructure finance', 'Local economy', 'Local government', 'Local …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
26 Feb 2026 | Other Department for Transport linked direct

Northern Powerhouse Rail: Millington to Manchester alignment for the route between Liverpool and Manchester - accounting officer assessment summary (January 2026)

Why linked: Northern Powerhouse Rail accounting officer assessment summary on Millington to Manchester alignment (January 2026) - formal DfT strategic appraisal

Northern Powerhouse Rail accounting officer assessment summary on Millington to Manchester alignment (January 2026) - formal DfT strategic appraisal

In response to: Department for Transport’s accounting officer assessment summaries for the Government Maj…

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
26 Feb 2026 | Other Department for Transport linked direct

Northern Powerhouse Rail: accounting officer assessment summary (May 2024)

Why linked: Northern Powerhouse Rail accounting officer assessment summary (May 2024) - formal DfT value-for-money appraisal

Northern Powerhouse Rail accounting officer assessment summary (May 2024) - formal DfT value-for-money appraisal

In response to: Department for Transport’s accounting officer assessment summaries for the Government Maj…

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
22 Jan 2026 | Other Department for Transport linked direct

Northern Powerhouse Rail compact agreements

Why linked: Northern Powerhouse Rail compact agreements - formal devolved authority collaboration agreements identifying GMCA as key entity

These compact agreements establish how government and mayors across the North will collaborate to deliver the next stage of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Greater Manchester Combined Authority: NPR comp… (2pp)
+5 more
↓ Liverpool City Region Combined Authority: NPR compact agree… (2pp) ↓ North East Combined Authority: NPR compact agreement (2pp) ↓ South Yorkshire Combined Authority: NPR compact agreement (2pp) ↓ West Yorkshire Combined Authority: NPR compact agreement (2pp) ↓ York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority: NPR compact ag… (2pp)
22 Jan 2026 | Policy paper Department for Transport evidence

Northern Powerhouse Rail compact agreement – Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Why linked: Filled the "Devolved authority agreements with Greater Manchester Combined Authority" gap via web research

The formal compact agreement signed on 22 January 2026 between the Secretary of State for Transport and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, establishing how the government and GMCA will collaborate to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail, including phasing, funding mechanisms, local …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
14 Jan 2026 | Other Department for Transport linked direct

Delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail

Why linked: Delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail gov.uk publication - Transport Secretary statement on multi-billion-pound programme

Transport Secretary outlines a multi-billion-pound drive to transform rail and growth in the North of England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2025

3 events
16 Apr 2025 | Research House of Commons Library linked direct

High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill 2024-25

Why linked: Commons Briefing Paper (CBP-10066) on High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill 2024-25, explicitly states government reintroduction for NPR purposes

Type: Commons Briefing Paper (CBP-10066) The government has reintroduced the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill and intends to repurpose this for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ CBP-10066.pdf

2024

6 events
25 Mar 2024 | Other Department for Transport linked direct

Northern Powerhouse Rail between Liverpool and Manchester

Why linked: March 2024 government announcement of the £12bn Liverpool-Manchester NPR investment — precursor framing of the Phase 2 commitment now in the King's Speech package.

Passengers will benefit from a £12 billion rail investment for the North, including faster journey times and more frequent services.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2023

5 events
14 Sep 2023 | Policy paper Department for Transport High Speed Two (HS2) Limited linked direct

High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill: promoter's response to the Commons Select Committee's special report

Why linked: Promoter's response to the Commons Select Committee's special report on the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill — directly engages the hybrid Bill that is being adapted into the NPR Bill.

Response by the Secretary of State for Transport to the Commons Select Committee's special report regarding the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill: promot… (56pp)
+2 more
↓ High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill: promoter's respons… (60pp) ↓ High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill: promoter's respons… (94pp)

2022

5 events
25 Aug 2022 | Research House of Commons Library linked direct

Northern Powerhouse Rail

Why linked: Commons Briefing Paper (CBP-9588) on Northern Powerhouse Rail overview - comprehensive background briefing on programme design

Type: Commons Briefing Paper (CBP-9588) This briefing provides an overview of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), a programme of strategic rail investments designed to improve connectivity between cities and towns in the North of England. The briefing covers the Government's proposed …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ CBP-9588.pdf
22 Mar 2022 | Policy paper Department for Transport linked direct

Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands

Why linked: Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands policy paper - explicitly identified in scope as predecessor/related policy providing strategic context

The government’s plan for delivering and sequencing major rail investment in the North and Midlands.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands… (161pp)
+5 more
↓ Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (print vers… (2pp) ↓ Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (print vers… (160pp) ↓ Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands: correction… (2pp) ↓ Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands: technical … (29pp) ↓ Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands: glossary
24 Jan 2022 | Policy paper Department for Transport High Speed Two (HS2) Limited Context · primary home: HS2 Phase 2a Development linked evidence

HS2 Crewe to Manchester: update on the strategic outline business case

Why linked: Filled the "Environmental impact assessments and transport appraisals for the Crewe-Manchester corridor" gap via web research

Provides an update on the 2017 strategic outline business case for the HS2 western leg route from Crewe to Manchester.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ HS2 Phase 2b Western Leg (Crewe to Manchester):… (7pp)
+1 more
↓ HS2 Phase 2b Western Leg (Crewe to Manchester): an update o… (132pp)
24 Jan 2022 | Other High Speed Two (HS2) Limited evidence

HS2 Phase2b Crewe - Manchester Environmental Statement

Why linked: Filled the "Environmental impact assessments and transport appraisals for the Crewe-Manchester corridor" gap via web research

This collection includes all of the documents associated with the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Environmental Statement

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2020

1 event
24 Nov 2020 | Announcement Department for Transport linked direct

Statement of Reasons Command Paper for the High Speed Rail (West Midlands to Crewe) Bill

Why linked: Statement of Reasons Command Paper for High Speed Rail (West Midlands to Crewe) Bill; predecessor/related phase of Northern Powerhouse Rail programme with direct statutory relevance

UIN: HLWS587 I am today 24 November 2020 publishing the Statement of Reasons Command Paper for the High Speed Rail (West Midlands to Crewe) Bill. The Command Paper is titled the ‘Government overview of the case for HS2 Phase 2a …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2013

1 event