It has been announced today (September 13) that the mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands have commissioned plans for an 80km Midlands-Northwest Rail Link (MNWRL) that would replace the scrapped northern leg of HS2.
The announcement follows a consortium that has been shared today and chaired by former HS2 Chairmen Sir David Higgins and l
ed by Arup with support from Arcadis, Addleshaw Goddard, EY, Dragados, Mace and Skanska.
Sir David Higgins OBE explained the plan is to get connectivity between the Midlands and the Northwest back on track.
According to the report the MNWRL has the potential to deliver roughly 85% of the benefits of HS2 Phase 2, at a fraction of the costs (c.60-75%).
Cost will be saved by relying on private sector investment, lower design speeds, ballasted track, UK rather than European standard cross-sections, and simplified interfaces with the existing rail network.
Around £2 billion would also be saved by the taxpayer on costs from HS2 as the report says it will re-use much of the land, powers, and design work that has already been secured through public investment.
It further outlines this rail link between Birmingham and Manchester could ‘greatly’ contribute to the Government’s 75% rail freight growth target by 2050.
Passenger services will move to this new line which will open additional freight paths on the West Coast Main Line.
Additionally, passengers will enjoy the same capacity and connectivity as the original HS2 line, with a journey time just 15 minutes longer—still 30 minutes faster than today's service between London and Manchester.
Rt Hon. Andy Burham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The report is clear: if we fail to put in place a plan soon to fix rail capacity and connectivity between the North and the Midlands, the already-congested West Coast Main Line and M6 will become major barriers to economic growth in the UK.
"But there is good news for the Government. The report concludes that we do not have to revive HS2 to unlock those benefits.
“There is a viable option to build a new rail line between Lichfield and High Legh, connecting HS2 to Northern Powerhouse Rail, with almost all of the benefits of HS2 delivered quickly and crucially at a significantly lower cost.
"Doing nothing is not an option as demand for rail services on the West Coast Main Line is set to exceed capacity within a decade.
“We are ready to work with Government, colleagues in the West Midlands and the business community to build a railway fit for the 21st century. But we do need early decisions to end the uncertainty."
The project could additionally be a catalyst for economic growth in the two regions with it estimating £70 billion of annual income and £24 billion revenue for the Exchequer.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands added: “This report confirms what we’ve been saying – additional rail capacity to and from the North is vital for the West Midlands.
“It’s about more than quicker journeys; it’s about connecting people, communities, and businesses to jobs and opportunities.”
“I’ll work with the government to ensure this happens, but we must also learn from successful rail systems around the world to deliver the best network and real value to the public.
“Without this extension, we will continue to be reliant on the West Coast mainline, which is already maxed out and impacting on the people of this region and wider.
“We need to free up capacity and we need to get this right - for our future and our economy.”
To read the report in full, including policy recommendations, click here.