Network Rail has submitted plans to build a viaduct linking Manchester’s Victoria, Oxford Road and Piccadilly stations for the first time.

The £130m Ordsall Chord proposal forms part of Network Rail’s £560m plan to improve railways across the north.

Following 18 months of consultation with local and regional stakeholders, the plans were submitted for consideration to the Transport and Works Act Unit within the Department for Transport.

If permission is granted, work is expected to start in late 2014 / early 2015 on the 1·5 km south-to-east rail link.

The new piece of track will help make rail travel across the region faster and more frequent, and could also help to boost the economy by £4.2bn and create 20,000 – 30,000 extra jobs throughout the area.

Located to the north west of Castlefield Junction, and crossing the River Irwell between Salford and Manchester, the new chord will free up space on the network for faster, more frequent services.

Dyan Crowther, Network Rail’s route managing director, said: “Submitting the Ordsall Chord application is a key milestone for the Northern Hub programme.

“The new viaduct will unlock much-needed capacity on the rail network and deliver faster, more frequent services across the North, as well as stimulating low carbon economic growth.”