Business leaders back "HS2 Lite" proposal

More than 20 business leaders across the North-West have called on the chancellor, Rachel Reeves to announce support for its “HS2 Lite” scheme that was recently proposed by both the mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, Andy Burnham and Richard Parker.

In the letter, they have said that the North risks being cut off from the Midlands and without some form of investment, long-term growth would be difficult.

“We know that one of the key priorities of this Labour government is to ensure economic stability and fiscal responsibility. The project is fully aligned with this priority.”, the letter says. Business leaders from across the two regions have signed the letter, including Mace, Arcadis, Skanska UK, AECOM and Sheffield, Mid-Yorkshire and Greater Birmingham chamber's of commerce.

The letter stops short of asking for money for the project in the upcoming budget which is due at the end of October but asks for the government to establish both a steering group involving combined authorities, government and the private sector and also maintaining land on the scrapped HS2 Phase 2a route as well as safeguarding land which has not yet been acquired on the route.

The letter also asks that the Crewe-High Legh section of the original HS2 Phase 2A route to be reinstated into the repurposed High-Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill so a new solution could possibly be found.

The initial report recommended that a new line should be built that allowed trains to travel at a maximum of 186mph, slower than the 225mph speeds of HS2 but far faster than the current west coast mainline, which it claimed was up to 40% cheaper than the original proposals and would be funded in a private-public funding model.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Transport is an essential part of the Government’s mission to rebuild Britain and grow our economy. We are committed to improving rail connectivity across the North, working with local leaders to do so.”

Former chancellor, George Osborne who is president of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership has also backed the plans, saying on the Political Currency podcast “I think it is a good long-term investment in the infrastructure of the country.

“I hope, even in this lighter form, HS2 is revived from the dead. It is a reincarnation I would fully support.”