MPs Demand Action on Northern Rail Connectivity Post-HS2 Cancellation
Ministers are being urged to outline their plans for alleviating congestion and enhancing rail connections across the North of England following the controversial decision to cancel the northern segment of the High-Speed 2 (HS2) project. In a critical report released by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), lawmakers expressed serious concerns about the mismanagement surrounding the high-speed rail initiative, warning that the mishandling of HS2 could lead to significant reputational damage for the UK.
The PAC’s findings suggest that the overall cost of the rail link could soar to nearly £80 billion, even after the previous Conservative government’s decision to scrap the line connecting Birmingham to Manchester. The backlash against this decision, made by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, was widespread, and the PAC has insisted that the government must now clarify its strategy for addressing future capacity issues on the West Coast Main Line and improving rail connectivity throughout the North. This clarification is expected in their upcoming six-monthly update to Parliament regarding HS2.
As reported by The i Paper, government officials have postponed any plans for a new rail connection between Birmingham and Manchester until there is a clear path forward for HS2. The report emphasizes that the government should not squander this latest opportunity to redefine the project after years plagued by cancellations, delays, and ballooning costs. The PAC has labeled the HS2 program as “a casebook example of how not to run a major project.”
The report states, “It is unacceptable that over a decade into the programme we still do not know what it will cost, what the final scope will be, when it will finally be completed, or what benefits it will deliver.”
Political Leaders Call for Urgent Reforms
Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who chairs the committee, expressed skepticism regarding the government’s ability to successfully deliver even a reduced version of the scheme, which he believes will provide poor value for money. “This is likely to have wasted billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money in delays and overspends,” he remarked.
Business and political leaders from the North have seized upon the PAC’s recommendations, emphasizing that any reimagining of HS2 must result in enhanced connectivity throughout the region. This is a commitment that Labour has made in its manifesto ahead of the elections. The Northern Powerhouse Partnership is calling on the government to reintroduce essential HS2 legislation to facilitate the improvement of connections from Manchester all the way to Newcastle.
- The business group has also advocated for the consideration of a new line, referred to as HS2-lite, which would feature slower trains and be partially financed by the private sector.
- Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, stressed the necessity of restarting the so-called Hybrid Bill, which was put on hold after the cancellation of HS2 north of Birmingham. He described the need for a new rail line connecting Manchester Airport to Piccadilly as a “first step toward new infrastructure” extending to Bradford, Leeds, and beyond, including Hull and Newcastle.
Murison stated, “The future prosperity of the North of England has been held back for too long by poor judgment and indecision in Whitehall.”
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, cautioned that the government must not “lose momentum”. She emphasized that improving connections to neighboring areas within the M62 economic corridor is vital for job creation and growth, as the current reliance on the congested motorway is insufficient.
Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton North, Elise Blundell, urged the government to “seize this moment” to ensure that residents across the Manchester city region benefit from the envisioned Northern Powerhouse Rail, HS2, and the government’s ambitious plans to revolutionize transportation across the country.
A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd commented, “Mark Wild, our new chief executive, agrees with the committee’s conclusion that there has been failure in the management of HS2’s cost and schedule. He is taking decisive action to get the project back on track at the lowest feasible cost.”
