HS2 route to Manchester has been scrapped by PM Rishi Sunak

Today after weeks of speculation the HS2 project from Birmingham to Manchester (Phase a and b) has been scrapped by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

With the £36bn saved Sunak has said he will be using this to make a network of the north and speeding up several journeys and more additions to improve rail services in the North.

In his statement he mentioned that HS2 will still come to Manchester on the West Coast Mainline and oddly said it will be faster which factually cannot happen even with a more aerodynamic train due to line restrictions and other technicalities.

The decision has not gone down well with some Greater Manchester people including the Mayor Andy Burnham who said: “the transport bottlenecks on both sides of the Pennines are ‘the single biggest thing holding back transport in the north”

Having scrapped Phase A to Crewe and B to Manchester will also mean a loss of jobs and apprentices in addition a loss of a lot of money in places like Warrington who would have made an estimated £2bn a year.

Responding to the government’s decision today to scrap HS2 to the North, Lord McLoughlin, Chair of Transport for the North, said:

“The cancelling of the northern leg of HS2 is naturally disappointing. It’s undeniable that this will be seen by many as a missed opportunity for the region, and the country as a whole. Only last week, northern business and political leaders came together at our TfN Board to speak with ‘one voice’ to reaffirm our position that HS2 and NPR in full are vital to truly transform the North.

“The announcement of investment in the region is obviously welcome. And we will look to work with government to fully understand the implications for the North of the proposals set out today in the Prime Minister’s speech, and consult with our Board on the best way forward in light of this new change of policy. There are still quite a few areas that require further clarification from the Department for Transport, which we will be seeking from them.”

What this has done is to cut us off from the South despite the proposed upgrades its not improved links to Cheshire and Manchester, it is claimed because of the decision today Warrington will be £2bn a year worse off.