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The High Speed Rail Group (HSRG), which includes members such as Hitachi, Siemens and Alstom, made its submission to the Treasury this week as part of a spending review consultation aimed at a “cost-efficient and deliverable path forward” for the high-speed rail project.
The previous Conservative government cancelled HS2 Phase 2, which would have seen the line extend north of Birmingham to Manchester, in October 2023.
In its submission to the Treasury, HSRG urged the government to “re-scope HS2 to a ‘Euston-Crewe core’” and to “un-freeze” the planned connection from the West Midlands to the Cheshire town. Without that connection, the organisation said the project would not relieve pressure on the West Coast Main Line at its “biggest pinch-point”. It could also be delivered at a much lower cost per mile than the original HS2 Phase 2a, the announcement claimed.
Other recommendations included:
- funding and delivering a “scaled-back, cost-effective Euston Station with a simple functional design”;
- undertaking a preliminary market assessment to explore financial payback options for HS2 infrastructure investment, using experience from the HS1 project;
- developing a long-term vision for the national rail network, helping to ensure that future extensions of HS2 could be accommodated at a later stage without excessive disruption.
“HSRG firmly believes it remains possible to deliver HS2 in a realistic and financially responsible manner, while ensuring that the project’s contribution to the growth of the national economy is delivered,” the announcement said.
HSRG chair Dyan Perry said: “HS2 is at a crossroads. If delivered correctly, it will unlock national transport capacity, generate a multibillion pound return to the Treasury, drive economic growth across the UK and enhance regional connectivity.
“However, if cut short, the government risks wasting substantial investments to date, short-changing the national account and squandering HS2’s far-reaching socio-economic benefits.”
She added: “HS2 has already stimulated significant investment in the UK’s supply chain, workforce skills and infrastructure expertise, to name just a few benefits. To secure the long-term advantages of a modern, high-speed rail network, we strongly urge the government to adopt our recommendations and take decisive action to restore financial control and accelerate delivery.
“By investing in our infrastructure now, we set the UK up for long-term growth and economic success.”
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