HS2, the high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham, has faced doubts over its second leg from Birmingham to Manchester, with rising costs leading to speculation that the project may be scaled back. Despite pressure from Labour and some Tory MPs, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to confirm whether the extension will go ahead. Transport Minister Richard Holden has said that the government is justified in reviewing the project which could have “a big impact” on cost, while Tory mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, and London mayor Sadiq Khan have criticised any downgrading of the plans.
The first leg of the £71bn HS2 line is already under construction and is seen as crucial to the government’s strategy to “level up” the country. The line has already experienced delays, cost increases and cuts and the planned eastern leg between Birmingham and Leeds has been cancelled while the completion of the line between Birmingham and Crewe has been delayed by at least two years. No announcement on the future of HS2 is likely to be made during the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this week.
The uncertainty over the second leg of HS2 has also raised questions about other plans to improve rail services across northern England, including the Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme which aims to improve links between Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds through a combination of new and upgraded lines. This scheme includes a section of the HS2 line from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly, as well as planned upgrades to Manchester Piccadilly station. The scheme could be compromised if the Manchester leg of HS2 is scrapped, according to Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.
While the UK government has been criticised for reviewing the viability of the second leg of HS2, the UK has set up a levelling up fund for 55 towns, helping to create jobs and bring in billions of pounds of investment, according to the Chancellor. Despite criticism and concern about the future of HS2, the UK government has stated that it remains committed to levelling up the country and attracting more investment
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