Map reveals what a Manchester underground system could look like

Planners have been given the go-ahead to start preparations for a new underground network in Manchester.

Last month, Andy Burnham unveiled ambitious proposals to develop the city’s transport network by going below the surface by 2050.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester had promised Britain’s third largest city its ‘best decade since the Victorian era’.

A new video map shows how the underground tunnels could take shape.

The network would be centred around Piccadilly Station, the city’s largest rail terminus, and would compliment the existing Metrolink tram system.

It would connect the city centre with the suburbs and surrounding towns including, Bolton, Stockport and Rochdale.

On Friday, Burnham announced that the Greater Manchester combined authority had given the green light for work to start on developing the scheme.

He wrote on X: ‘I am pleased to report, at today’s meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, approval was given for work to begin on the development of a plan for an underground system for Manchester.’

Manchester previously considered an underground rail system in the 1970s, dubbed the Picc-Vic line, which would have connected Piccadilly and Victoria stations.

However the plans were shelved after the council failed to secure funding for the project from Westminster, and instead efforts were poured into reviving the city’s tram network.

During his tenure, Burnham has expanded the Bee Network, which now also includes the city’s bus network – which became fully under council control in January.

But his latest eye-catching plans have been met with some skepticism from experts, who believe the final bill for underground network would run into billions of pounds.

David Leeder, from consultancy Transport Investment Limited, said the scheme would burn ‘hundreds of millions of pounds’ in its development stage alone and that Burnham would struggle to raise the funds from local taxes alone.

He told Metro: ‘The passenger volumes in Manchester are a fraction of those in London. 

‘Yet it was very hard to make an economic case for the Elizabeth Line, even with such huge volumes, so it will be harder still in Manchester’.

But Burnham has insisted the project is essential to keep up with demand

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