The High Speed Rail Group warmly welcomes the Government’s announcement of its long-term intention to build a new railway line from Birmingham to Manchester, connecting to HS2 which will run from London to Birmingham. This new line is essential if we are to avoid locking in Britain’s biggest bottleneck to the north of Birmingham and ensuring the investment in HS2 Phase 1 to date is not wasted.
However, we remain concerned about the lack of clarity over the new line, including timescales potentially extending over 10 years, and the decision not to extend land purchase powers, which expire next month. Whilst the land north of Birmingham can of course be purchased in future, it will require fresh legislation and inevitably be more costly than doing so under the current powers.
HSRG’s international expertise in high-speed rail confirms that delaying the Birmingham-Manchester link would hinder the London-Birmingham high-speed line from delivering its full benefits.
Our spokesperson said:
“The Government’s commitment to build a new line from Birmingham to Manchester is essential and the right decision. It will maximise the benefits of the investment already made in HS2 and avoid locking in Britain’s biggest bottleneck north of Birmingham”.
“The industry is concerned, though, that the timescales for delivering this new line appear uncertain and potentially some decades away. We are also concerned that the Government does not intend to extend the land purchase powers between Birmingham and Crewe, which expire next month”.
“It makes more sense to retain these legal powers whilst the Government develop a clear, costed plan for connections north beyond HS2”.
“Nonetheless, today is a step forward in recognising that the previous plan did not work. We look forward to working with the Government to develop the plan for an affordable new line from Birmingham to Manchester, which is key to unlocking economic growth in the north of England.”