HS2 benefits for the North

The North is fully behind High Speed 2, according to Rail North Director David Hoggarth.

He told the National Rail Conference on November 5: “Particularly from a regional or Northern point of view, we’re really clear that the full benefits of HS2 (when realised) are the local and regional networks which feed into that core.

“They did a study on economic benefits, which identified - for example - £1 billion worth of productivity benefits just in the West Yorkshire area, as a result of HS2. We need to make sure the franchises, the other developments, are actually ready to capitalise on that.”

• For more on Hoggarth's speech, and National Rail Conference coverage, read RAIL 788, published on November 25.