Rail Minister (): As set out in a
written ministerial statement to Parliament on 6 June 2022, the
government is today (20 June 2022) publishing a Supplement to the
January 2022 update to the High Speed 2 (HS2) Crewe to Manchester Strategic Outline
Business Case (SOBC). This Supplement
to the SOBC
sets out the implications of removing the Golborne Link from the
High Speed (Crewe to Manchester) Bill scheme.
The January 2022 update to the SOBC set out the
importance of the proposed scheme in linking Manchester to the
high-speed network, reducing journey times between the UK’s
biggest economic regions (the South East, Midlands, and North
West) and generating much-needed passenger and network capacity
on the West Coast Mainline (WCML), the UK’s busiest mixed rail
use corridor.
It also outlined the scheme’s central role in rebalancing the UK
economy by providing the platform for economic growth and
regeneration in Manchester and the North West, and its importance
as the strategic enabler for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and
the wider Integrated Rail Plan for
the North and Midlands (IRP).
This scheme also included the Golborne Link, a proposed
connection from the HS2 network
near Hoo Green to the WCML just south of Wigan, aimed at
increasing the number of HS2
services between England and Scotland.
As announced on 6 June 2022, subject to the will of Parliament,
the government no longer intends to seek powers to construct the
Golborne Link as part of this Bill. As Sir Peter Hendy’s Union
Connectivity Review made clear the Golborne link might not
resolve all the rail capacity constraints on the West Coast
Mainline between Crewe and Preston.
The government will, therefore, take time to consider
alternatives that deliver similar benefits to Scotland as the
Golborne link, so long as these deliver for the taxpayer within
the £96 billion envelope allocated for the Integrated Rail Plan,
and to understand the deliverability of the alternatives.
HS2 is an essential factor in
achieving the transformative impact of the government’s £96
billion Integrated Rail Plan, connecting our major cities,
including connections between the North and Midlands.
With other elements of the IRP, it will encourage businesses
to invest beyond London while retaining ready access to the
capital. It will make it easier for people to find
high-wage, high-skilled jobs without having to travel south. This
will help drive productivity and growth, benefitting the whole
country.
A copy of the Supplement to the
Strategic Outline Business Case will be placed in the
Libraries of both Houses and made publicly accessible online.
