High Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill
- The High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill, will drive
economic growth and productivity by providing powers to construct
and operate rail infrastructure that is key to improving
inter-regional and northern rail connectivity.
- We are repurposing the Bill to transform rail connectivity
and services across the north of England.
What does the Bill do?
-
We are not reversing the decision to cancel the second
Phase of HS2. Instead, we are repurposing the High
Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill to provide powers to
construct and operate rail projects which improve east to west
connectivity across the north of England.
- Using this Bill to enable delivery of key infrastructure
ensures that we can deliver on our manifesto commitment
to improve rail connectivity in the north of England at
pace. The Bill includes powers for important rail
infrastructure in Manchester and the surrounding area, including
new stations at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester
Airport.
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Local leaders in the north of England have been vocal
in calling for this Bill to support ambitions to
address the productivity gap in the north of England by
transforming rail connectivity between the region's economic
centres through transformative infrastructure investment.
- Carrying this Bill over demonstrates commitment to making
progress on rail connectivity whilst we work with local leaders
on an improved overall strategy.
Territorial extent and application
- The Bill will extend and apply GB-wide.
Key facts
- Northern cities are a key opportunity but lack scale to
compete globally, with economies more isolated than expected
based on geography. These cities' total population is similar to
Greater London (9.3 million vs 8.9 million), but their combined
economy c.50 per cent smaller. Joining our northern cities
together is critical to growth.
- Rail is the most effective, environmentally friendly way to
improve transport capacity between city centres, and journey
times between them. The northern rail network is largely
two-track with less electrification, lower frequencies, and
slower speeds than in the south-east, compounded by poor
reliability and high levels of crowding.
- Rail is the most effective, environmentally friendly way to
improve transport capacity between city centres, and journey
times between them. Improved rail connectivity in the north could
dramatically improve passengers' travel experience by providing
faster and more frequent services between the north of England's
key cities.
- This improved rail connectivity would have a region wide
impact, directly serving the biggest cities in the north of
England and improving journey times into the centre of major
towns and cities where most jobs are located. It means increased
accessibility to jobs for workers across the north of England and
more skilled labour available for employers. It will also provide
passengers greater flexibility and choice around how they want to
travel and support a greater shift to public transport.
