Thrill down our spine

Liverpool-Manchester rail project will be backbone of boost to North

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Two hundred years ago, a railway between Liverpool and Manchester changed the course of history. It didn't just link two cities - it connected people and ideas, powered the Industrial Revolution, and helped build modern Britain.

That spirit of innovation still thrives in the North. This week, Andy Burnham and I will lead a cross-party group to Westminster to show how we can harness it.

Our ambition has never faded but too many links powering prosperity haven't kept pace. For years, outdated infrastructure has held back our region and people. Now we have a chance to put that right.

At the centre of our visit is the Liverpool-Manchester Railway - a transformative project to help deliver the next phase of our country's growth.