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HS2 delivered in full alongside Northern Powerhouse Rail offers a great opportunity to drive real change to the north.
Government approval for HS2 to start work on the Network marked the beginning of a new era in British railway construction, one that will see the first railways to the north in more of a century, and a system that can take the region into the 22nd century.
Transport for the North is hugely supportive of HS2 as an infrastructure project and its potential to create the necessary new capacity that will help economic growth and prosperity.
In partnership with Northern Powerhouse Rail, there is an opportunity to rebalance the British economy and make unprecedented progress on the levelling up agenda.
Northern Powerhouse Rail is a mix of new and existing lines that will improve journey times and reliability between our towns and cities, effectively bringing them closer together for both passengers and freight.
When completely integrated with High Speed 2 (with around 80km of shared track and links to various HS2 stations) it will create the fast, modern network that is needed by the people and businesses of the North and underpin economic transformation.
It will free up much-needed capacity on existing routes for local stopping and direct services and freight movements, as well reducing carbon emissions through electrification of the North’s major rail routes.
The full network is a vital part of our region’s future, enabling people to travel further afield for work, education and leisure opportunities, and giving businesses the confidence they need to locate in the North, knowing that they can access the labour markets that will allow them to grow
Northern Powerhouse RailTransport for the North does not have a formal governance link to HS2, but it remains a key partner in terms of work at touchpoints along the NPR network.
Our Strategic Rail team is working to implement our Long-Term Rail Strategy for the North of England, which outlines the investment required right across the network. This covers both tracks and trains, and requires a partnership approach where we work with external organisations including Network Rail, Train Operating Companies, the Department for Transport, and HS2 Ltd.
Transport for the North is also working with the DfT on the High Speed North Integrated Rail Plan. This is an exciting and ambitious project that has the opportunity to map out the next 20 years of investment in HS2, NPR and other major rail schemes in the North.
We commit to working with HS2 Ltd and the Government to ensure that delivery of the new railway maximises and speeds up delivery of benefits to the North, as well as being fully integrated as part of a coherent railway system.
Northern Powerhouse Rail
We remain firm in our collective belief that the Board’s preferred approach to HS2 and NPR best reflects the unique opportunity to unleash the potential of the North, addresses the imbalance in the quality and extent of the rail infrastructure across the UK, and achieves real, positive, and lasting change for the region
The NPR and HS2 networks are colossal infrastructure projects that will make significant direct contributions to the connectivity and capacity of the UK, and particularly the North of England.
The powerful combination of HS2 and NPR will transform the rail legacy left by the Victorians, now creaking under the strain of demand.
HS2 needs to dovetail with Northern Powerhouse Rail to better meet customer expectations, as well as support future economic growth for decades to come.
Delivered together in full, these projects would tackle head-on the productivity gap between the North and the South, and provide the modern, fit-for-purpose railway the North so badly needs.
The long-term future of the North’s railway infrastructure – with HS2 at its heart – was under inspection in 2019/20, with the Oakervee Review of the project.
The review was supported by a panel of experts, including former TfN Chairman John Cridland. It recommended that HS2 should go ahead in full, but that further work should take place to advise how best to integrate HS2 with other rail projects, including Northern Powerhouse Rail.
On the publication of the review in February 2020, the Prime minister confirmed that HS2 will go ahead.
We welcome the Oakervee Review’s findings that HS2 and NPR need to be seen as a single network, recognising that much of the NPR network adds to or uses HS2 infrastructure. Both are needed – it is not an either/or choice – and both NPR and HS2 should be seen as equally important.
With HS2 being a central part of our Strategic Transport Plan, we’ve been a persistent strong voice on delivering both HS2 and NPR in full, for the benefit of the North.
Our submissionTransport for the North has worked to ensure NPR is integrated with other major rail schemes in the North, including HS2, major local schemes, and Network Rail Northern Programmes.
We remain committed to creating a joined-up network for the North – including adapting to HS2 plans, as well as alignment of TfN’s Long-Term Rail Strategy and High Speed North.
With national attention and promises of significant investment in the North’s infrastructure – including commitment to HS2 and NPR now made, there is significant opportunity to understand and advance delivery of such once-in-a-generation projects and the legacy they will leave for the North.
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