How the North hopes to replace HS2 – but will still end up with slower trains

3 comments

1. When [Rishi Sunak took his scissors to the long-planned HS2 rail scheme last year](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/hs2-state-of-the-art-worst-all-worlds-3260639?srsltid=AfmBOopzEy9wt3QlBP6HWBiViRdBTMPDs47VHSjUbly4X5_53CYdCaUg?ico=in-line_link) – cutting it off at Birmingham – he severed not only the hopes of the North being served with faster trains, but more importantly neutered the chances of easing chronic congestion on the existing Victorian West Coast Main Line (WCML).

   That was the bleak outlook then. But having witnessed years of plans for a new main line between the West Midlands and Greater Manchester disappear, the then metro mayors of those two huge conurbations [took it upon themselves to develop their own plans for a replacement](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/hs2-north-is-dead-but-mayors-considering-low-speed-version-to-boost-trains-2895303?srsltid=AfmBOooZRGpU0LDWqPhE8VWfgbl3HHO0In0rAtgf_r-xkzasAfES7f0L?ico=in-line_link).

   On Friday, nearly a year on from Sunak’s cut, the proposals that have resulted from the mayors’ (current Greater Manchester supremo Andy Burnham, and former West Midlands mayor Andy Street) initiative will be made public. It will be time for the new [Labour Government to decide whether it can give its blessing](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/hs2-northern-leg-dead-east-west-links-go-ahead-3174867?srsltid=AfmBOorouiKKs7jMGGUTy6-k2r9uXO7pFVkMa40iyQNeb-4Jl3mdSKY-?ico=in-line_link) to another new major railway line at a time when money is tight and demands for capital expenditure are high.

   The message from Mr Burnham could not be clearer: “Doing nothing is not an option”.

   # Why the North needs a new railway line

   The Government has long held the view that the existing WCML is close to capacity and another new railway, linking the country’s biggest cities, was a pressing concern, and a key reason for the original plans for HS2. And the problem only became more acute in the years that followed. A [Department for Transport report in 2020 warned that the current line was at “breaking point”](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/hs2-cancellation-train-services-north-breaking-point-dft-advice-warned-2644427?srsltid=AfmBOopU33cwJr5fribnl9FcQ8n_A9elW1JHDG9eWLvH93gatGSfGKUi?ico=in-line_link) and “unable to cope with demand”.

   While the pandemic and the change in passenger behaviour since has reduced that demand, passenger numbers are once again on the rise and the existing 143 year old line is creaking under the pressure.

   To make matters worse, the £67 billion solution to that capacity problem – HS2 – is now expected make it much worse. Sunak’s decision to axe HS2 north means HS2 trains will merge onto the existing WCML track, after they leave Birmingham, adding even more congestion onto an already overloaded rail line.

   William Barter, a rail expert, who acted as an adviser on HS2, told **i**: “When the mayors said doing nothing is not an option, they were right.

   “If you look at the railway north of Handsacre junction and through to Manchester you can see why there is a need for another rail line, because whenever you are on that train you have to ask is this really the best way of serving the country’s biggest revenue raising railway?”

   A report published last week by Transport for the North – which represents public and private sector voices – stressed that a replacement for HS2 remains essential.

   “The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-use railway in Europe, carrying a myriad of intercity, regional, local, freight and heritage services each day,” it said.

   “HS2 was designed to release capacity on the route by segregating intercity services, addressing several key bottlenecks on the route.

   “With the cancellation of HS2, alternative interventions will be required.”

2. So SS2 then?

3. They should fill the hole with affordable housing so we can finally become the impoverished mole creatures our overlords want us to be.