... (not Cord) ... is actually just a short stretch of track, about 300 yards long, which connects the line running westwards from Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Deansgate with the line that runs to Victoria via Salford Central. These two lines meet nearby, but there is no direct route (see diagram linked above).
It's also known as the Castlefield Curve.
The link was first proposed in the 1970s, and approved by Parliament in 1979, but was then shelved. Network Rail revived the proposal in 2010 as part of its Northern Hub proposal. Funding for its construction, totalling £85 million, was announced in the 2011 budget, and construction began in 2016. The Chord became operational on 10 December 2017, but its use has been limited by the lack of capacity at Victoria, Oxford Road and Piccadilly to cope with any increase in 'through' services.
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