One of the developments announced by the Chancellor this week is Old Trafford Regeneration. News outlets are focussing on the football ground, but there is an important rail related aspect to this project. 

The land they want to build the extended football ground on is occupied by three rail freight yards. The project involves relocated those facilities and in doing so will significantly reduce the freight traffic on the highly congested Castlefield Corridor (between Oxford Road and Piccadilly) diverting them on other routes and releasing this capacity will allow more passenger trains which is a current barrier to improving rail services in the north of England.