Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement today (11 February) that HS2 will go ahead, Barry White, Chief Executive of Transport for the North, said: “The green light to get on and build HS2 is the right decision for the UK. It is an ambitious and significant step forward in releasing the Northern economy from the straightjacket of poor infrastructure that has held it back for so long.
“The powerful combination of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) will transform the rail legacy left by the Victorians, now creaking under the strain of demand. That’s east-west and north-south connections for our 15 million people and businesses. That the Prime Minister has stated clearly that this isn’t a choice between one or the other is a giant leap forward, something our Northern leaders have been steadfast on.
“Benefits to the North’s communities need to be delivered as quickly as possible and we’re determined to push ahead and get spades in the ground here. A pause to review how both HS2 and NPR work as a fully integrated railway for the North is understandable on projects of this scale. We need an integrated plan and committed investment pipeline for the North that delivers in years, not decades. We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to quick progress and we’ll work with Government to drive this forward.
“But a pause must be just that. It must be aimed at getting the best social and economic clout for the North, and providing the same high speed railway as between London and the Midlands.
“Building on this ambitious step today, we want to see full commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail in the National Infrastructure Strategy due to be published on budget day – the most transformational solution connecting our major towns and cities from Liverpool to Hull and the North East. Doing so would slash journey times in the North, spark economic growth and reduce the nation’s carbon footprint.
“Crucially, the decisions must now be led by the North.”
