Northern Powerhouse Rail

Infrastructure and Construction

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: £45.0bn
Published schedule: 01/02/2016 – 31/12/2051
NISTA delivery confidence: AMBER
Senior responsible owner: Nick Bisson

What the project is for

Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) is the Government's long-term programme to further improve connectivity in the North of England as a fundamental part of the government's Northern Growth Strategy. Northern Powerhouse Rail aims to create a frequent and reliable turn-up-and-go railway service across the Northern Growth Corridor (including Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and York) with regular services continuing to Newcastle, Hull and Chester.

Departmental delivery commentary

Compared to the financial year 24/25 Q4, the NISTA Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 25/26 Q4 has improved from Red to Amber. This improvement is primary a result of NPR receiving an agreed funding commitment in January 2026 of up to £45bn in 2025 prices, along with decisions on the single biggest scope choice in terms of the approach between Manchester and Liverpool and use of the Crewe-Manchester hybrid Bill.

Schedule

Compared to the financial year 24/25 Q4 the NPR project end date has increased from December 2045 to December 2051. This reflects updates to the scope of the programme which had not been updated since the previous government's Network North Command Paper, and takes into account the planning which is forming the Programme Business Case.

Cost

Compared to Financial Year 24/25-Q4 the programme's agreed whole life costs at Q4 25-26 (measured in £bn) has increased from 30.60 in 2019 prices to 45.00 in 2025 prices. This update reflects the agreed government upper limit funding profile which was announced as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail announcement within the wider Northern Growth Strategy in January 2026. A refined cost profile for the programme will be developed following the completion of the Programme Business Case.

Benefits

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the programme's departmentally agreed Benefits at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m in 2010/11 prices) remained at 8007. NPR benefits continue to remain unchanged pending an update as part of the Programme Business Case due later in the year. An updated benefits profile will be produced following the publication of the Programme Business Case