A major infrastructure project, which will see Manchester’s Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Victoria stations linked by rail, has been given the go-ahead by government.
Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin has granted permission for the 115€ million Ordsall Chord scheme.
This will see the construction of a new 340m long viaduct, connecting the Bolton railway line with the Chat Moss line, and crossing the Irwell on a new bridge.
It will be the first time a direct rail link has been created between the three Manchester stations.
Aimed at tackling congestion on the region’s rail network, the new link is seen as a key element within the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ strategy. It will provide a direct route to Manchester airport from other cities.
Construction had been due to start in late 2014 or early 2015, but that timeline slipped due to lengthy delays in the planning process. ]
Following a detailed inquiry, the Secretary of State has now granted approval, with minor modifications. The scheme will see the compulsory purchase and demolition of homes close to the route.
In his letter granting permission, the Secretary of State noted that: “the scheme is the first component of the wider Northern Hub programme of improvements to the rail network in the North of England and that there was no dispute at the inquiry that the scheme was crucial to the delivery of the transportation, regeneration and socio-economic benefits of that programme”.
Network Rail has been working on the project with a joint venture between Skanska and Bam Nuttall under an ECI arrangement.
Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “The investment going into the railway in the north will bring huge benefits.
“The Northern Hub project will see more trains, faster and better journeys for millions of people and the Ordsall Chord is a vital part of the overall scheme”.