Posted 4th October 2023 | 3 Comments
HS2 to Manchester ‘set to be scrapped today’
It is being reported that the Prime Minister will announce the scrapping of HS2 Phases 2A and 2B from Birmingham to Crewe and Manchester today.
The BBC claims that Rishi Sunak will reveal a series of alternative projects in England and Wales when he addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on its final day.
Ministers have repeatedly avoided answering questions about the future of HS2 over the past few days, ever since it emerged that talks were being held at government level when documents were seen being carried by a Treasury official.
The Prime Minister himself would only say that he would not comment on ‘speculation’.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is a Labour politician, has described the reports as ’profoundly depressing’, while his opposite number in Birmingham, Conservative Mayor Andy Street, warned that abandoning the northern section of HS2 would damage the reputation of the United Kingdom in other countries.
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
John Porter , Leeds
The expected decision needs to recognise that HS2 has a key role as significant as the Motorway Network. The announcement needs to deal with the capacity problems on the West Coast Main Line directly and by identifying capacity enhancing small schemes.
I’m most conscious of inadequate capacity between Rugby and Euston, at Weaver Junction north of Crewe, Piccadilly Station Manchester, Stockport, etc.
The announcement needs to improve governance and give local authorities more influence.
Unfortunately HS2 started with too big a first phase. With hindsight it ought to have started with Marsden to Warrington (the key bit of Northern Powerhouse Core Network and equivalent to the toe in the water M6 Preston, M40 High Wycombe & M4 Slough bypasses).
Better evaluation of the original S shaped network ought to have established its fallback role in case the Eastern Leg - which originally didn’t serve Central Sheffield, Derby & Nottingham - proved too contentious.
John B, London
In the words of Joe Rukin: the most costly train wreck in history.
Tony Pearce, Reading
Apparently he will announce that the Birmingham to Old Oak will be the only built bit, and will be single track with a few passing paces. As the first choice trains - 4 wheeled Pacers - are no longer available, the line will be built with an electric 3rd Rail and operated by old SR EMUs. Should save a lot of money.