Manchester's rail future at risk without HS2 link, warns mayor

The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has expressed grave concerns regarding the future of rail services in the North if the HS2 line is terminated at Birmingham. In 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a reduced plan for HS2, which originally included an extension to Manchester. This decision was reaffirmed by the new Labour government, which confirmed that the cancellation of the second phase of HS2 would not be reversed. Burnham warned that without a proper link, the North would face severe congestion and a decline in rail service quality. Burnham highlighted that if HS2 trains were to operate on the existing West Coast Main Line without necessary adjustments, it could lead to a catastrophic situation for rail travel in the region. He pointed out that many stations are not equipped to handle the longer trains that HS2 plans to introduce, which would also have to reduce their speed on the existing tracks. A report from Transport for the North indicated that the current rail infrastructure could reach its maximum capacity, leading to a potential collapse of services. In response to these challenges, Burnham has called for a more affordable alternative to connect Birmingham and Manchester within the next decade. He proposed a slower 50-mile Midlands-Northwest Rail Link, which would connect with the Northern Powerhouse Rail. This proposal, developed in collaboration with consultancy firm Arup, is seen as a crucial opportunity to enhance connectivity between two of the UK's largest cities. The situation underscores the urgent need for strategic planning and investment in rail infrastructure to prevent a decline in service quality and to support economic growth in the North. Burnham's advocacy for a revised approach to HS2 reflects broader concerns about regional transport equity and the future of rail travel in the UK.