The government has today committed to leaving no stone unturned
when it comes to finding the right solution to take HS2 trains to Scotland.
The Department for Transport has announced its intention to
remove the Golborne Link from the current HS2 Bill and explore alternatives
that deliver similar benefits, within the £96 billion
envelope of the Integrated Rail Plan.
The Golborne Link – a high speed rail link
connecting HS2 to
the West Coast Mainline – will, subject to Parliamentary, be
removed from the High Speed Rail (Crewe –
Manchester) Bill after its second reading following
clear recommendations set out in last year’s Union Connectivity
Review.
The government is updating safeguarding boundaries to align with
the HS2 Bill, but
will maintain safeguarding for the Golborne Link during the work
on possible alternatives – meaning impacted residents and small
businesses can continue to apply under the property compensation
schemes.
The independent Union Connectivity Review undertaken by Sir Peter
Hendy claimed that the Golborne Link does not resolve all the
current capacity constraints on the West Coast Main Line between
Crewe and Preston.
In line with this review, the government has committed to
exploring a number of alternatives that could deliver similar
benefits within the framework of the Integrated Rail Plan –
ranging from upgrading existing infrastructure to brand new
high speed links.
Scotland is already set to benefit from the boost in connectivity
and huge economic benefits HS2 will bring with services between
London and Glasgow set to be available, based on current
timetable assumptions, once HS2 trains start running onto the
conventional rail network.
HS2 Minister said:
HS2 is a
once-in-a-lifetime project that will transform travel across the
entire UK as we
know it and serve millions of people for hundreds of years to
come and it’s absolutely vital that we get this right from the
outset.
Removing this link is about ensuring that we’ve left no stone
unturned when it comes to working with our Scottish counterparts
to find a solution that will best serve the great people of
Scotland.
The Union Connectivity review recommended a full exploration of
alternative options to the Golborne Link and
the UK government
is working with the Scottish Government and other devolved
authorities to implement recommendations from it.
This is just one part of the £96 billion Integrated Rail Plan –
the biggest ever public investment in Britain’s rail network –
and the first of 3 new high speed lines being planned, to add
more seats, shorten journey times, support local services and
deliver a modern, fully connected transport network.
The High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill was introduced in
January with the goal of bringing faster, greener and more
reliable train services as well unparalleled economic benefits to
the north and will have its second reading when parliamentary
time allows.
