Bradford station announced as Manchester Piccadilly underground review continues

A new station at Bradford Interchange has been announced under the £45bn Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme, while a review of an underground station at Manchester Piccadilly continues.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander announced the Bradford plans on Tuesday 20 October. The scheme aims to give Manchester better rail connections with cities including Liverpool, Leeds and York, with faster journeys and more frequent services across the north.

The Piccadilly review is understood to be continuing, with a recommendation on which option to pursue described as ‘due soon’.

Two options for Piccadilly

In January 2026, Greater Manchester and the Department for Transport agreed to examine the case for putting Northern Powerhouse Rail services underground at Piccadilly. The review compares that proposal with the surface station option already included in the Northern Powerhouse Rail Hybrid Bill.

The department confirmed that it was examining the underground option while working with Greater Manchester on northern transport connections.

Manchester City Council leader Garry Bridges welcomed the Bradford announcement and renewed his call for an underground through-station at Piccadilly.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he argued that it would improve rail efficiency and capacity, allow future expansion and release land for homes and jobs.

Land around the station

The wider Piccadilly area covers around 150 hectares. It is thought that development supported by a new Northern Powerhouse Rail station could provide up to 40,000 jobs and 13,000 homes.

The surface option, where trains would turn around, could occupy 21 hectares that might otherwise be available for development.

Alexander said the Bradford station would improve connections and support economic growth, housing and employment across the region.