The UK government is evaluating a cost-effective rail option known as ‘HS2-light’, which may optimise travel between Birmingham and Manchester.
- This initiative is part of a comprehensive strategy to address the country’s infrastructure requirements.
- The proposed route could potentially reduce construction costs by up to 40% while still easing congestion on the West Coast mainline.
- The review has gained momentum following recent confirmations about the HS2 terminus at London’s Euston station.
- A final decision is anticipated after an imminent three-year spending review.
The UK government is currently deliberating a proposal for a cost-efficient rail alternative called ‘HS2-light’. This consideration comes amid broader efforts to address and improve the nation’s infrastructure needs. The new line would extend from Birmingham to Manchester, offering a solution to the impending ‘capacity crunch’ on the West Coast mainline, according to the National Audit Office.
The ‘HS2-light’ route is estimated to decrease construction expenses by up to 40%. This reduction in costs is largely achieved by allowing trains to travel faster than the existing West Coast mainline but slower than the originally planned HS2, which will commence operations in the 2030s.
The proposal has gained urgency as Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has confirmed that HS2 will conclude at London’s Euston rather than Old Oak Common. This alteration has necessitated reevaluation of the rail systems’ capacity, particularly affecting the line’s extension beyond Birmingham.
Senior government sources indicate that fiscal rule adjustments, soon to be detailed in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget, may support this infrastructure development. The outcome of these reviews will be pivotal in determining the trajectory of the ‘HS2-light’ project.
Labour figures, including mayors Andy Burnham and Richard Parker, are advocating for the plan. Their report, guided by former HS2 Ltd chairman Sir David Higgins, underscores the need for a new line connecting regions from Lichfield in Staffordshire to High Legh in Cheshire, integrating with the east-west Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Henri Murison, leading the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, asserts that the proposed ‘HS2-light’ is crucial, branding it the only feasible resolution to the region’s existing capacity challenges. According to him, the project would not only enhance connectivity between the North and Birmingham but also extend links towards Leeds and the northeast.
Internally, government officials recognise the current rail network’s limitations, described metaphorically as a ‘dog’s breakfast’. This sentiment underscores the urgent necessity for improvements, with a resolution anticipated in the coming months.
The UK government is poised to decide on the ‘HS2-light’ project, a key initiative aimed at transforming the nation’s rail infrastructure.
