Network Rail has announced a number of developments planned across the north of England.

The first of these is a submitted application for a new connection between Manchester's Victoria and Piccadilly stations. Known as the Ordsall chord, this aims to ease up a bottleneck south of Piccadilly, allowing more trains through.

This is expected to be completed by the end of 2016 or early in 2017. Network Rail states this will add two new fast services between Manchester Victoria and Liverpool every hour, the route between Manchester and Leeds will receive two more quick trains per hour and a faster connection will be available to Manchester Airport from the city's centre. Shorter travel times to Hull, Newcastle and the rest of the north-east of England can also be expected.

Network Rail's application is part of its wider programme for the northern hub. This aims to add 700 daily trains, making room for approximately 44 million passengers each year.

Route managing director for Network Rail Dyan Crowther said: "Britain relies on rail and with demand for rail travel increasing it's essential we invest in the railway to provide a better service for passengers with more trains, additional seats and fewer delays."