Bennetts Associates has created concept designs for two new rail hubs to serve the Manchester City Region as part of a growth strategy aimed at capitalising on the potential of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

The practice’s Manchester office worked with the city council, the city region’s combined authority, Transport for Greater and engineer Mott MacDonald to create a vision for two “world class” rail hubs to demonstrate the possibilities of the rail developments.

Manchester is the terminus for Phase 2A of HS2, which will provide fast services linking the city with London via Manchester Airport in just one hour and eight minutes. Northern Powerhouse Rail, which is the new name for HS3, offers upgraded connections and improved network capacity between Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield and Hull.