North West route Home Running the railway Our routes North West route The North West route runs from Cheshire in the south to Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria in the North. Major stations across the route include Crewe, Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Victoria, Manchester Piccadilly, Bolton, Preston, and Carlisle. The route is home to the two Northern Powerhouse cities of Liverpool and Manchester, as well as the tourist destinations of Blackpool and the Lake District. Since 2012, work has been ongoing as part of the Great North Rail Project to upgrade key routes and stations, as well as roll out faster and more modern trains, which are all helping to transform passengers’ journeys. Across the route, the rail industry is working together more closely than ever to deliver what passengers really want – a reliable railway, timely information, clean stations and enough seats on trains. The North West route is part of the North West and Central region. Phil James Route director, North West Main railway lines: the West Coast Mainline from crewe to Carlisle. the pan railway from Manchester to Liverpool. Safety We work closely with local communities to promote safety by the railway. Find out more on our community safety page. Projects in North West Great North Rail Project Our plan to stimulate economic growth in the north of England through better connections between towns and cities. By 2022 the Great North Rail Project (GNRP), part of Britain's Railway Upgrade Plan, will have delivered a multi-billion... Transpennine Route Upgrade Major investment to be made to the railway between York and Manchester via Leeds and Huddersfield. The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is a multi-billion pound, transformative, long-term railway infrastructure programme that will improve connectivity in... Crewe hub An opportunity to increase capacity, transform connectivity and improve performance, while rejuvenating the wider economy. Crewe station is a key transport hub in the north west of England, providing connectivity for passenger and freight services to... Latest news Broken-down train causes Manchester Piccadilly disruption Nov 26, 2021 A Northern service from Buxton to Manchester Piccadilly came to a stop at around 8.30am today (Friday 26 November). This blocked a key junction for around 90 minutes, stopping other trains from arriving or departing... Railway station lifesavers installed across the North West Nov 23, 2021 The £134,000 investment by Network Rail and train operator Northern will create a network of 90 stations all with the vital medical kit. Every minute that passes by until a defibrillator is used reduces someone’s... Refurbished Congleton station footbridge reopens for passengers Nov 16, 2021 It reopened to passengers today (Tuesday 16 November) after a £320,000 upgrade as part of the Great North Rail Project. The improved structure links the platforms at the busy Northern-operated station. Network Rail engineers have... See more news Train operating companies in North West CrossCountry East midlands railway MerseyRail Northern Scotrail TransPennine Express Avanti West Coast Together we can end domestic abuse Follow us on: Home Who we are Staying safe and secure Media Contact us Copyright © 2021 Network Rail Privacy notice Cookies Terms & conditions Accessibility Modern Slavery Statement Site Map Feed