Manchester Airport Group welcomes Northern Powerhouse Rail commitment

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has welcomed the UK government’s renewed commitment to the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme, highlighting the potential benefits for the airport’s regional connectivity and economic impact. The response follows government announcements this week outlining major new rail investment for northern England.

image: Ken O’Toole, Chief Executive, MAG Group (credit: MAG)

Under the latest NPR plans the Treasury confirmed that a new station will be delivered at Manchester Airport as part of the wider network strategy. The broader NPR investment includes £45bn in rail improvements across northern cities, initial design funding of £1.1bn and phases of delivery beginning in the 2030s, focusing first on routes such as Liverpool–Manchester and east–west city links.

MAG said the inclusion of a dedicated NPR station could help unlock the full potential of its existing two runways, supporting jobs, trade, investment and tourism across the North. The airport group has been progressing a £1.3bn Transformation Programme due to conclude this year.

Ken O’Toole, Chief Executive of Manchester Airports Group, said the announcement represented “a welcome and long overdue step towards the creation of a highly productive and internationally competitive Northern growth corridor.” He added that placing Manchester Airport at the heart of the new rail network would give people and businesses better access to global markets and attract investment to the region.

O’Toole also said the project would “unlock the full capacity of Manchester’s existing two full‑length runways – capacity that is available now,” and expressed MAG’s intent to work with the government and regional partners to deliver NPR “at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Regional leaders have described the NPR announcement as a significant step for northern transport infrastructure, although questions remain over funding mechanisms, delivery timelines and the sequencing of projects. The plans aim to improve connectivity between major northern cities and enhance economic growth across the region.

No specific dates have been set for the start of construction on the Manchester Airport station or other NPR elements, with much of the planned work expected over the next decade and into the 2040s.