HS2 could reach Manchester before Leeds as Ministers consider change to legislation

High speed rail could reach Yorkshire after it arrives in the North West after it emerged that the Government is considering introducing vital legislation for the Manchester leg of HS2 before the Leeds section.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Andrew Stephenson, the newly-appointed Minister for HS2, said today that "the entire energy of government must now be behind" the 250mph line connecting London with Leeds and Manchester after it was finally given the green light by the Prime Minister.

In his first speech in his new role, the Minister said legislation to bring high speed rail into Manchester would be brought forward "as soon as practical" as he said the controversial project "needs to regain the public's trust".

Read More
Stephenson’s rocket will fire up HS2 at last – The Yorkshire Post says
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Curzon Street railway station in Birmingham where the HS2 rail project is under construction. PA Photo.Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Curzon Street railway station in Birmingham where the HS2 rail project is under construction. PA Photo.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Curzon Street railway station in Birmingham where the HS2 rail project is under construction. PA Photo.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And The Yorkshire Post understands that Ministers are looking at whether the 'hybrid bill' confirming the western leg of the scheme between Crewe and Manchester should be put before the Commons before the eastern section connecting the West Midlands and Leeds.

The two northern legs are part of Phase 2b of HS2, whose completion date was pushed back to between 2035 and 2040 last year because of delays to the controversial project.

But the change in tack by the Government suggests the Manchester route, which is considered less controversial than the route through Yorkshire, may now be developed first.

The move prompted the influentiial Northern Powerhouse Partnership to warn that anything less than delivering both the eastern and western legs in full would be a "failure to deliver the Northern Powerhouse and the benefits of transforming the UK by closing the North - South divide".

HS2 Minister Andrew StephensonHS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson
HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a speech in the Commons this months announcing that HS2 would go ahead despite its spiralling costs, Boris Johnson suggested he wanted to bring high speed rail to the North sooner than originally planned.

He told MPs: "Those who say we should simply build 2B and Northern Powerhouse Rail according to the plans currently on the table, are effectively condemning the North to get nothing for 20 years.

"And that would be intolerable. So as we draw up this plan we are not asking whether it is phase 2B or not to be. The question is how we can bring a transport revolution to the North sooner."

An 'integrated rail plan' is currently being drawn up setting out how HS2 can be combined with the £39bn Northern Powerhouse Rail project connecting the great cities of the North and wider investment in rail projects.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It is understood that no final decisions have yet been made about the timing and phasing of high speed rail in the North and that the plan is due to be published before the end of the year.

But the terms of reference for the plan, released last week, say: "The government will also proceed with the legislation to allow for the development of the Western Leg provided it does not prejudge any recommendations or decisions that will be taken in this plan, and noting that Phase 2b can be legislated for in two or more hybrid bills, which may run concurrently."

Mr Stephenson, the Tory MP for Pendle in Lancashire, was given the role overseeing HS2 as well as Northern Powerhouse Rail and the £2.9bn trans-Pennine route upgrade as part of the PM's announcement that the scheme would go ahead.

And he said he would be leading regular cross-government meetings as happened during the 2012 London Olympics alongside Transport Secretary Grant Shapps as he warned: "We must get this project right."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He told the New Statesman's Northern Powerhouse conference in central Manchester: "The critics who say that HS2 will only benefit London are simply wrong.

"They ignore the voices in towns and cities across the globe. They ignore the businesses and passengers who are crying out for investment and change. They ignore people in my own constituency of Pendle.

"I'm proud to be a northern MP, tasked with ensuring these historic projects are delivered and run for the benefit of the people here.

"But that also means we have to have a realistic, pragmatic and hard nosed management of the costs, and the determination to unleash benefits which will revitalise the North.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I've been a long term supporter of HS2, but I've equally watched with deep concern as costs have risen and deadlines have been put back. Very simply that can't continue, we need to have a much better improved approach from HS2 this time."

Northern Powerhouse Partnership Director Henri Murison said: ”The businesses we represent are crystal clear: High Speed North must guarantee all of the new lines previously committed to alongside the vital upgrades we need to increase capacity and reliability.

"That means new lines on the HS2 eastern and western legs, and the lines between Liverpool to Manchester and Manchester to Bradford and Leeds. Anything less would be a failure to deliver the Northern Powerhouse and the benefits of transforming the UK by closing the North - South divide.

“The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has been clear on his last visit to the North to us and Northern business and civic leaders that both eastern and western legs would 100% happen, and we intend to hold him to that promise.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Alongside the new lines, it is important that Northern rail passengers see some improvements to their journeys. That means more new trains on a nationalised Northern, and alongside wider infrastructure enhancements that can be completed fully this decade; such as from Leeds to York and on to Newcastle.

“We will be making the case to both the Department for Transport and the National Infrastructure Commission that getting spades in the ground on our network sooner rather than later is critical for people to have confidence in High Speed North.”

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.