The Government is considering the proposals put forward by the Metro Msyors for the so called HS2 Light rail link that would extend the line north of Birmingham
The proposals by The mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands would see a 50-mile Midlands-Northwest Rail Link – running from Lichfield, north of Birmingham, to High Legh where it would then connect with a new high speed line between Liverpool, Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly
The project would cost around seventy five per cent of the cancelled HS2 line
According to a report in this morning’s Times, the proposal comes after Louise Haigh, the transport secretary, effectively confirmed that the agreed section of HS2 between London and Birmingham would terminate at Euston rather than Old Oak Common.
The paper speculates that:
The project would be funded by changes to the government’s fiscal rules, which are expected to be announced by Rachel Reeves in her budget on October 30.”
A report last year found that the cancelling by the last Government of the HS2 link between Birmingham and Manchester would result in trains with less space between Manchester and Birmingham than current west Coast services, and might require demand management to dissuade passengers
The National Audit Office report added that Between Manchester and Birmingham there could be a 17% reduction in capacity.
