Levelling up in the North has been called into question after the government revealed why Manchester won't be getting an underground HS2 station, and we want to know how you feel about the situation.
The high cost of £5 billion has been cited as the reason, with High Speed Rail director general Clive Maxwell saying: "It would have meant digging a very large underground box and cavern to accommodate all those platforms, and that would have cost very large sums of money."
However, this goes against warnings from Northern leaders about the damaging consequences building an overground station could have on Manchester.
Let us know in the comments section.
The current plans would see huge concrete viaducts built above Manchester which would 'sever' the east of the city, cutting off tram routes to Tameside for two years while works take place.
Responding to the latest news on the issue, one reader said: " As usual the North can make do. Environmental concerns none, levelling up not at all. Listening to regional voices, no."
Others made comparisons to London, with someone else saying: " But London can have its HS2 station underground. Surely, this is the opposite of levelling-up."
Another argued: " All the main money has been spent in London. What is left is up for grabs by the whole of the North. As well as the new HS2 station, there has been the new underground line and all the stations for it.
"In the meantime, the North struggles to get updated rolling stock, let alone new railway lines and stations."
Do you think the North is being 'levelled up' or left behind? Let us know in the comments section.
