A small section of HS2 in Greater Manchester is being revived, and it could unlock a wave of future transport improvements across the north. The move involves the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill, which is being repurposed to focus on enhancing rail connections in northern England.
Background of HS2 Cancellation
When former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2 in late 2023, it sparked widespread backlash. The decision, announced during the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, ended hopes of a faster train link from Greater Manchester to London. Sunak stated, "I am ending this long-running saga. I am cancelling the rest of the HS2 project and reinvesting every single penny – £36 billion – in hundreds of new transport projects in the North and the Midlands."
Revived Section and Its Importance
Now, a small portion of HS2 in the north, including a link between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly station, is being brought back. This forms part of the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill, which is being repurposed with a focus on improving rail connections across the north. The move is expected to feature in the King's speech on Wednesday, setting out new laws planned by the government.
Creating this new link in Greater Manchester is crucial for wider transport plans across the north. Insiders say it would pave the way for a new Manchester to Liverpool line in phase two of the £45 billion Northern Powerhouse Rail programme. One source described the Manchester Airport to Piccadilly connection as the "key part" of the future Manchester to Liverpool connection – a piece of the puzzle that is "non-negotiable" and needs to happen to unlock the rest of the project.
Expert Commentary
Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We're expecting there may be good news on Wednesday. This is critical because it will enable not just to be connected to Manchester city centre as part of the wider Manchester-Liverpool scheme, but also will in the end connect Yorkshire better to the airport."
Government's Approach
It is understood that the government decided to repurpose the current High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill rather than creating a new one to save the time and money already invested. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander outlined the plan in Parliament in February. She told MPs that the Bill "has been refined" with a new purpose and is the "mechanism by which planning consent for the eastern part of the new route between Liverpool and Manchester can be granted."
She added: "The Bill will have the necessary powers to deliver the section of Northern Powerhouse Rail into Manchester via Manchester airport, including new stations at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester airport itself. We are now seeking to progress the Bill to make the best use of the significant progress it has already made."
Benefits of the Manchester-Liverpool Line
A new Manchester-Liverpool railway line has long been touted as essential for boosting connectivity across the north and maintaining economic health. The plan could cut journey times between the two largest cities in the north west to as little as 35 minutes, while increasing the number and frequency of trains. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham previously said this could turn Piccadilly Station into the "King's Cross of the North."
Part of the wider project includes plans for an underground Piccadilly station. As Burnham stated at the start of the year: "Finally, we have a government with an ambitious vision for the North, firm commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail, and an openness to an underground station in Manchester city centre. Today marks a significant step forward for Greater Manchester. We'll now work at pace to prove the case for an underground station and work up detailed designs for the route between Liverpool and Manchester."
The transport secretary said of the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill in February that it is "important to crack on and get it done" given the wider ambitions for the north of England. This small section of HS2 in Greater Manchester, set to be resurrected in the King's speech on Wednesday, could be the key to unlocking it all.
