The northern leg of HS2 was axed by Rishi Sunak before he was ousted as prime minister at the General Election in July.

However, this may not be the end of railway development in the area.

Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), often referred to as HS3, is a plan for a new railway network for the north of England.

The project – which is predicted to cost up to £40billion – would increase rail capacity in the region for the 21st century, and feature new and significantly upgraded railway lines.

NPR, advocates say, would also improve journey times and boost the number of trains per hour, allowing the economy to operate on a better level above the Midlands.

But the future of the plan remains uncertain, as the Labour government reportedly wants to review it. In March, the Conservative government claimed that there had been progress on development of the rail link between Liverpool and Manchester following engagement with local leaders and local MPs.

It added that there was a “clear consensus” from local leaders for stations at Warrington and Manchester Airport to be served as part of NPR.

But the i reports that the resignation of former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has ‘worried’ northern leaders.

Ms Haigh, a Sheffield MP, told then Conservative rail minister Huw Merriman in November 2022: “Not only are the north and the midlands not getting the infrastructure that they require, but rail services across the country are in freefall, experiencing record cancellations on top of fewer services than at any time since records began.

“One couple wrote to me this week and said they felt in danger from overcrowding and began to understand how real tragedies could occur.”

In September, the Liverpool Echo reported that Ms Haigh said: “The previous government went round promising money like there was no tomorrow, including all their commitments on Network North.

“They hadn’t made an agreement with the Treasury so that funding is not practically available at the moment.

However she went on to say that she was “really conscious” of how important that line between Liverpool and Manchester is and so was “looking at everything in the round”.

She added: “We will make sure that when we develop the strategy, that is the strategy we deliver – rather than these constant u-turns and promises that just really undermine confidence, particularly in the north.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, confirmed in October that she would change the Government’s self-imposed debt rules in order to free up billions of pounds for infrastructure spending.

This is to “grow the economy”, she said.