Engineers warn of HS2 ‘isolation’

The Government announced details of the next phase of the £32bn HS2 high-speed rail network today.

The preferred route will run northwards from Birmingham with five stops: Manchester; Manchester Airport; Toton in the East Midlands; Sheffield; and Leeds.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology( IET) says that if the project is to be a success it must be developed alongside other transport requirements.

Prof Phil Blythe, Chair of the IETTransport Policy Panel, said: “If the Government intends to proceed with the development of a new high speed rail line, it must consider connections to the wider transport network at the outset and plan these effectively to ensure seamless, congestion free, door to door journeys.

“As most of the proposed stations are on the outskirts of major conurbations this is crucial to help maximise the benefits of any new line and to ensure local authorities can plan local transport solutions effectively to avoid issues such as a huge increase in new road users trying to access stations.

“Developing HS2 in isolation to local transport requirements would further serve to undermine this project.”

Prime Minister David Cameron said HS2 will enable the UK to “board the high-speed revolution”.

“Linking communities and businesses across the country and shrinking the distances between our greatest cities, high speed rail is an engine for growth that will help to drive regional regeneration and invigorate our regional economies,” he said.

“We are in a global race and this government’s decision to make high speed rail a reality is another example of the action we taking to equip Britain to compete and thrive in that race. High speed rail is a catalyst that will help to secure economic prosperity across Britain, rebalance our economy and support tens of thousands of jobs.”

The publication today of the 211-mile northern phase two route of HS2, follows the confirmation a year ago of HS2’s 140-mile southern phase one route between London and Birmingham, which starts construction in four years and opens to passengers in 13 years. The routes announced today, running from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds, will open six years after that.