Plan unveiled for new slower, cheaper HS2 rail line alternative

Creating a new rail link between the Midlands and the north west is critical to enhancing capacity for passengers and freight moving between the regions, a report commissioned by the mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands found.

An alternative new line would be between Lichfield, in Staffordshire, and High Legh, south of Lymm.

This would then connect with the proposed east-west Northern Powerhouse Rail, with a coalition of private sector organisations led by former HS2 Ltd chairman Sir David Higgins describing the plans as a ‘golden opportunity’.

In October last year, then-prime minister Rishi Sunak cancelled a plan to extend HS2 between the West Midlands and Manchester amid spiralling costs.

The report did not provide an estimated cost of the new project, but it said financing should be ‘maximised from the private sector’, with central and local governments ‘partnering to fund the balance’.

It stated that despite services being slower than if HS2 were built in full, journeys between London and Manchester would be only 15 minutes longer than under initial plans for the high-speed railway, which would still be 30 minutes quicker than today.

The consortium found the new line has the potential to deliver ‘roughly 85 per cent of the benefits of HS2 Phase Two’ at 60 to 75 per cent of the cost.

Costs would be lower than with HS2 because of the need to design tracks for lower speeds and using simplified connections with the existing rail network, according to the report.

Another method to save money will be from using ballasted track, whereby rails are supported by a layer of crushed rock and gravel.

HS2 will be built using slab track, which means rails are fixed onto a solid base, which is more expensive.

The report said the proposal would also ‘save the taxpayer £2billion on costs’ from the HS2 Phase Two cancellation, through re-using much of the land, powers and design work already secured through public funds.

The consortium recommended that the Government maintains ownership of land acquired for HS2 Phase 2a between the West Midlands and Crewe.

It also called on ministers to establish a ‘steering group’ involving the private sector, combined authorities and the Government to produce a feasibility study and technical analysis.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burham said: “The report is clear: if we fail to put in place a plan soon to fix rail capacity and connectivity between the North and the Midlands, the already-congested West Coast Main Line and M6 will become major barriers to economic growth in the UK.

“But there is good news for the Government. The report concludes that we do not have to revive HS2 to unlock those benefits.

“There is a viable option to build a new rail line between Lichfield and High Legh, connecting HS2 to Northern Powerhouse Rail, with almost all of the benefits of HS2 delivered quickly and, crucially, at a significantly lower cost.”

Sir David said: “Our review sets out a plan to get connectivity between the Midlands and the north west back on track.

“We do not pretend that solving the rail challenges between these two places will be easy. We know it will be hard graft.

“What we need now is for the new Government to work together with the business community and combined authorities. Take the practical steps to make a new rail link a reality.

“We have conclusively shown that a new line can be built cheaper and faster – we now need to get on and deliver it.”