The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has denied that he will make a premature decision regarding the future of the HS2 high-speed train line. Despite growing pressure and speculation about the cancellation of the Birmingham to Manchester leg, Sunak insisted that he would not be swayed by “someone’s TV programme.” He emphasised that making the right decision for the country was more important than a decision based on coming under pressure. Reports last week predicted that an announcement was imminent but a final decision has yet to have been made.
The handling of the HS2 proposal has caused consternation from both supporters and opponents of the project. The issue has overshadowed the Tory Party conference, the last before the general election in 2024. There is growing suspicion that there could be an announcement of a potential reduction to the project as the PM has continued to champion alternative transport schemes for the north of England.
Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), a plan to improve connections between Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool, is one of the alternatives proposed, which could feature strongly if the decision is made to only partially continue with the HS2. NPR has been designed to intersect with the high-speed line and cancelling the Manchester leg may increase the costs of the NPR scheme.
Several senior Conservatives have already requested that the Prime Minister not cancel HS2. George Osbourne, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, highlighted HS2 as “a great opportunity to deliver for northern voters” and cancelling the Manchester leg “would be a great tragedy.” Meanwhile, the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, released his own declaration that cancelling HS2 to Manchester would amount to “cancelling the future” and depriving the UK of its status as an attractive investment option.
The HS2 line aims to cut journey times and improve employment prospects outside of London. However, the project has been mired by delays, cost considerations and job cuts since its inception. Boris Johnson, Theresa May, and David Cameron have also cautioned against reducing the scope of the project. Despite concerns, some Tory MPs still believe that there are better alternatives to improving transport links and that it represents a wasted expenditure of finances
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