Labour has committed up to £45bn to the long-delayed Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project, aiming to reverse years of underinvestment in northern England’s transport infrastructure. The government has allocated over £1bn to develop a detailed three-stage plan connecting cities from Liverpool to Newcastle. The first stage will extend current TransPennine upgrades and deliver a new Bradford station. Stage two focuses on a new line linking Liverpool and Manchester via Manchester Airport and Warrington, following part of the former HS2 route, with potential future connections to Birmingham. Stage three will improve links between Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, and York. Work is expected to start in the 2030s, with completion by at least 2045. Northern mayors welcomed the plan, though local funding may be required to cover costs exceeding the £45bn cap. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham stressed the need for an underground Manchester Piccadilly station to reduce disruption and improve capacity. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram praised the partnership approach, while Yorkshire mayors highlighted improved connectivity for cities including Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, and York. Keir Starmer said the investment shows a firm commitment to northern transport, ending years of broken promises. Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said the plan could unlock better-paid jobs, new homes, and a single, connected labour market across the north. The plan also includes work on reopening the 21-mile Leamside Line in County Durham, closed since 1964, and a new station at Manchester Airport, supporting northern economic growth and competitiveness.