HS2 is a sore subject up north. The scrapping of the planned line between Birmingham and Manchester last October was a mega blow to communities all across the two regions. But now, leaders are taking matters into their own hands.
The authorities of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands have published plans for a new railway connection between Manchester and Birmingham, which they hope will deliver 85 percent of the benefits of the abandoned HS2 line at 60 to 75 percent of the cost.
The cost of the Midlands-North West Rail Link would be kept down through lower-speed trains and building on the existing rail network. According to the report, it’s vital for dealing with the increasing pressure being put on the West Coast Main Line and M6 motorway.
A statement said: ‘“Doing nothing”’ on this corridor is not a viable option, from either economic or operational perspectives. The transport network simply will not function effectively, and the nation’s current investment in HS2 will be poor value for money.’
Manc’s mayor Andy Burnham added: ‘There is no way on God’s earth that the current West Coast Main Line and the M6 can be relied upon for decades. If you put in this extra connecting piece between those two areas, you will then have a network that can support growth in London, the south east, the Midlands, and, of course, the northwest.’
It’s hoped that the plans will be approved by the Department for Transport ahead of the government’s budget announcement on October 30. So, for now, we wait.
Getting around the UK
Chances are you use public transport, maybe every single day. We understand how important it is to stay clued up on what's going on in the transport world when you've got places to be, which is why we keep you updated on things like news that these major UK rail services will be massively disrupted for the next six years, the ranking of best (and worst) British airports and the latest information about ongoing strikes with our national industrial action hub.
Did you see that the UK’s best (and worst) universities for 2025 have been named by the Daily Mail?
Plus: Two British lakes have been crowned the ‘most picturesque’ in the world
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.