The plans to construct a high-speed railway line linking Manchester and Leeds were abandoned in favor of more affordable projects that would improve travel times between the North, Midlands, and London.
Whitehall sources said the so-called ‘High Speed Three’ line across the Pennines has been dropped from a £96billion package of improvements designed to slash travel times.
The eastern leg of HS2 linking Birmingham to Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds has also been axed, with a potential saving of £40billion.
Instead of focusing on new links, ministers argue it will bring benefits faster and cheaper. For example, travel time from Birmingham to Nottingham is cut from 72 to 27 minutes and Birmingham to Manchester takes 90 minutes.
According to sources, a major improvement to the Liverpool- Leeds route could reduce travel time between Manchester and Leeds by half an hour.
Planned construction of a new high speed rail line connecting Manchester and Leeds has been abandoned to make way for cheaper projects in order to reduce journey times to the North or Midlands. Stock image
But ministers should be prepared for criticism because previously pledged flagship programs are being cancelled. Boris Johnson made a promise to build a new high speed line linking Manchester and Leeds, in July 2019, one of his most important promises since becoming Prime Minister.
Officials warn that drilling a tunnel beneath the Pennines could lead to high costs, delay and loss of benefits up to 10 years compared to upgrading existing routes.
According to a source, the new scheme would result in similar travel times and much faster speeds.
Former Labour transport secretary Andrew Adonis said the decision to axe the eastern leg of HS2 was a ‘historic mistake’. He added: ‘Building only the western leg of HS2 to Birmingham and Manchester but not the eastern leg to Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle is like the Victorians deciding to build railways in the west of the country but leaving the east with canals.’
Former Labour transport secretary Andrew Adonis said the decision to axe the eastern leg of HS2 was a ‘historic mistake’ (file image)
But ministers hope that the £96billion package – the biggest investment in rail for decades – will lead to improved services and shorter journey times for millions of people, making rail commuting a reality for many more workers living in the Midlands and North.
The package is a central part of the PM’s pledge to ‘level up’ opportunity across the country.
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester said that not delivering full HS2 would be seen by North Americans as a sign of weakness.
But transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris said there was ‘a whole host of different means’ to deliver the pledge and northern leaders would be ‘very pleased’.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘The Integrated Rail Plan will soon outline exactly how major rail projects, including HS2 phase 2b and other transformational projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, will work together to deliver the reliable train services that passengers across the North and Midlands need and deserve.’