Incredible plans to TUNNEL underneath UK city centre for massive train network are unveiled

BOLD new plans to tunnel beneath a major UK city for a massive underground train and tram network have been officially unveiled. The dramatic move aims to transform how people travel in and out of the busy urban centre and tackle future congestion. If delivered, the scheme would represent one of the most significant transport overhauls in Manchester’s history The TimesMr Burnham said early design work would begin immediately, with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) tasked with drawing up initial concepts[/caption] The ambitious project, based in Manchester and led by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, would see trains and trams running below ground for the first time in the city’s history, aiming to ease congestion and support future economic growth. Speaking at the launch of Greater Manchester’s new 10-year strategy, Mr Burnham said early design work would begin immediately, with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) tasked with drawing up initial concepts. The network is expected to start with a new underground station at Manchester Piccadilly and could eventually stretch east-west and north-south across the region. Mr Burnham said: “We are going underground. “We are building the Bee Network on the surface. “But if we achieve our economic ambitions, we’ll struggle to cope with just that. “I’m going to ask TfGM to explore underground service options. “We will work with the government to explore funding avenues.” If delivered, the scheme would represent one of the most significant transport overhauls in Manchester’s history. It would add a subterranean layer to the expanding Bee Network and is designed to alleviate congestion as the city’s population and economy continue to grow. “We will need infrastructure on a bigger scale to cope,” he said, speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. “It’s not a throwaway line. I am deadly serious.” Mr Burnham said he wants TfGM to begin drawing up the first concept for an underground network in Manchester and plans to start early talks with the government about how it could be funded. In the 1970s, plans for the ‘Picc-Vic’ tunnel linking Piccadilly and Victoria stations were drawn up but later scrapped due to cost. Mr Burnham noted that the idea isn’t entirely new, pointing to previous discussions and plans for underground transport. He explained that major developments around Piccadilly, including the digital campus, Sister, and Mayfield, would need a large-scale, international-standard transport system. He added that an underground station at Piccadilly could serve as the starting point for a wider network running both east-west and north-south across the city. While there is no set date for construction to begin, the mayor said he wants a “detailed” plan, with clear costs, to be developed by 2030. The vision supports Greater Manchester’s goal of creating a world-class integrated transport system, capable of handling future demand and connecting key areas across the region. Mr Burnham has pledged to work closely with Whitehall to explore funding routes, while TfGM will now begin work on early concepts and feasibility studies. The announcement has sparked excitement among transport campaigners and city planners, many of whom have long argued Manchester needs bold solutions to match its growth. The idea of going underground isn’t new for Manchester