The eastern phase of HS2 will be ‘dependent’ with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps prioritizing the new Leeds for Manchester Northern powerhouse line as part of Boris Johnson’s leveling plans.
- Transport secretary adds to speculation on the future of the eastern phase
- Indicated a possible major rethink of the project between Birmingham and Leeds
- Minister cautioned not to blindly follow the plans prepared about 20 years ago
Grant Shapps has indicated that the eastern phase of the controversial HS2 rail line may be terminated in favor of improving services to the north. boris johnsonLeveling up agenda.
Transport Secretary adds to growing speculation about the future of the Eastern Phase of the High Speed Line LondonHe said that the ministers would not blindly follow the schemes prepared nearly two decades ago.
In an interview with the Financial Times, he indicated that a major rethink between the project Birmingham And Leeds may be in order, with a greater focus on interconnecting cities in the north and the Midlands.
Poor quality and costly East-West rail services have long been trouble for politicians in the region, who argue they are a major factor in stifling economic growth.
Mr Shapps told the newspaper: ‘We want to make sure we get trains to Leeds in a way that really benefits the people on the network and not blindly follow a plan invented 15 to 20 years ago. Do what no longer benefits people.’
Construction of the first phase of the high-speed rail project from London to Birmingham is underway. But the scheme is unpopular with the Tories among the poets.
The transport secretary added to growing speculation over the future of the eastern leg of the high speed line from London and said ministers would not blindly follow plans drawn up nearly two decades ago.
In an interview with the Financial Times, he indicated that a major rethink of the project between Birmingham and Leeds may be in order, with a greater focus on inter-connecting cities in the North and Midlands.
Phase 2A is planned to run from Birmingham to Crewe, and Phase 2B is planned to run from Crewe to Manchester and from Birmingham to Leeds.
But after the government-commissioned Okravi Review warned last year that the final bill for HS2 could reach £106 billion at 2019 prices, there were concerns that the eastern phase of Phase 2b could be scrapped.
This escalated when the National Infrastructure Commission in December said the focus should be on regional connectivity.
Mr Shapps told the Financial Times that the construction of the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) plan, which aims to connect cities in the region with an east-west route, should also be taken into account.
He said: ‘The Midlands Rail Hub and Northern Powerhouse are rail things … they were invented, they weren’t when the HS2 was first designed.
‘We need to make these things work together. Are we doing things in the best way and in the right order?’
Shadow Transport Secretary Jim McMahon called Mr Shapps’ comments “outrageous”.
He said, ‘You can’t trust a word Tory said. ‘It is outrageous to expect people to accept endless retaliation for promises made years ago.
‘Poor transport connectivity continues to lag the North, the Midlands and beyond and the Conservative’ record is one of total failure to deliver.
‘Communities that stand to lose once again – thanks to the inability of the government to keep projects on track – will feel rightly betrayed by yet another broken promise framed as a new announcement.’
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