Greater Manchester is expected to face a 20-year wait for HS2 trains after the latest delay to the controversial rail link with London was confirmed by the Government.
The high-speed line was due for extension to Crewe from Birmingham between 2030 and 2034 to help boost transport in the north of England. The next stage - the 'Phase 2b' section joining Crewe to Manchester - was set for connection between 2035 and 2041.
But Mark Harper, the transport secretary, yesterday announced a two-year delay to the 'Phase 2a' link between Birmingham and Crewe, with no guarantees of any further delays in the future.
The news is expected to push back construction and could now see HS2 trains enter service in Greater Manchester, the end of the line, by as late as 2043, leaving the burden on the West Coast mainline until then.
Mr Harper confirmed the Government would take the High Speed Rail Bill for Crewe to Manchester through Parliament, saying it would 'form the foundations for improved rail services in the North through the Northern Powerhouse', although no exact dates were set.
He said in a written ministerial statement on Thursday: "We continue to take the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill through Parliament, and the Crewe-to-Manchester section will also form the foundations for improved rail services in the North through Northern Powerhouse Rail."
As the fall-out continued Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, told the Manchester Evening News the most northerly section of the route, between Crewe and Manchester, would be 'protected' as the leg makes it way towards parliamentary approval.
Mr Murison said he didn't fear for the Manchester leg, adding: "No, we were reassured to see the Government repeat its commitment to delivering the line from Euston to Manchester.
"They know it would be politically and economically disastrous for them to scrap it. While I disagree with this decision to delay, the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt remains a huge advocate for the project, as does [shadow chancellor] Rachel Reeves, who could potentially replace him at the next election."
No work has started as yet on the planned section of HS2 between Crewe and Manchester.
Lord McLoughlin, Chair of Transport for the North, agreed. He spoke of a 'disappointing announcement' with regards to Birmingham, but confirmed he had been 'reassured by the Transport Secretary' that HS2 was still coming to Manchester.
He said: "However, it needs to be understood whether or not these cost savings can be realised while still achieving the same desired outcome and conditional outputs. The government needs to avoid being penny wise and pound foolish, as delays don't necessarily lead to savings, and in fact can drive costs upwards.
"Nevertheless, the political leaders of the North who sit on our Board have made their collective position very clear – we must transform the North by building both HS2 and NPR in full. Taken together, both projects unlock the North's economy from the existing position of poor infrastructure that has held it back. It is the communities and businesses across the North of England who are suffering most by any delay or inaction in delivering on these schemes."
Manchester, meanwhile, is due to press its case for an underground station for HS2 at Manchester Piccadilly rather than an overground station.
Mr Murison said: "We need to make the right decision on Manchester Piccadilly – and we need to get it right the first time. Just as important is delivering a station at Manchester Airport, the North's international gateway. As it stands there is no guarantee of funding for this, although Birmingham Airport is getting its station fully funded."
The 225mph railway - which some estimates suggest will cost £106billion - was originally planned to run from London Euston to Manchester and Leeds via Birmingham. A planned HS2 extension to Leeds was shelved in November, 2021.
Mr Harper, making the announcement, added: "The Government is committed to delivering HS2 Phase 2a between Birmingham and Crewe. We have seen significant inflationary pressure and increased project costs, and so we will rephase construction by two years, with an aim to deliver high-speed services to Crewe and the North West as soon as possible after accounting for the delay in construction.
"Work continues on progressing commitments made in the Integrated Rail Plan to develop HS2 East, the proposed route for HS2 services between the West and East Midlands, and to consider the most effective way to take HS2 trains to Leeds.
"HS2 continues to represent a very significant investment into our national infrastructure, levelling up communities right across our country, providing a net-zero alternative to car travel and domestic flights, and training a skilled workforce for the UK's future construction industry."
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