Journey Time Between Manchester And Sheffield To Be Halved

Real Estate experts at Irwin Mitchell welcome the five routes shortlisted for the new trans-Pennine tunnel that can almost halve journey time between Manchester and Sheffield as part of the Government’s Northern Powerhouse agenda.

The proposed tunnel will cut journey times by 30 minutes which could provide an economic boost to the two cities, as well as surrounding areas. The new link would also reduce traffic through the Peak District National Park (PDNP). 

All five routes join the M60, east of Manchester to the M1 north of Sheffield – all starting at M67. 

Studies were launched in 2015 aimed at addressing some of the biggest challenges facing road networks in the UK, and the trans-Pennine tunnel study was one of them. The study found a strong case for the system which could potentially provide safer, faster and more reliable journeys. 

Roy Beckett, North West office managing Partner and real estate expert at Irwin Mitchell, said: 

Expert Opinion

“Connecting two main northern cities allowing greater accessibility is crucial for a successful northern powerhouse. The shorter commuting distance between Sheffield and Manchester will encourage greater capacity for business links, building relationships between the universities, and boost the likelihood of residents of Sheffield to work in Manchester and vice-versa.

“Compared to parts in the south, the northern transport system does lag behind the rest therefore it’s promising to see that this tunnel has been acknowledged from studies, although ambitious, and routes have already been shortlisted.

“A big problem currently for transport between the two cities is traffic throughout the Peak District causing queues at Glossop. The people of the North deserve a better system that will allow them to benefit from quicker, more reliable journeys.”
Roy Beckett - Partner

The strategic and economic cases for each tunnel option will be assessed and cost estimates will be provided once the study is completed at the end of 2016.