By Vivienne Russell | 27 October 2014
The prime minister and chancellor have given their backing to a proposed High Speed 3 rail scheme, which aims to provide better and quicker links between England’s northern cities.
A report published by HS2 chair Sir David Higgins, set out proposals on how to maximise benefits of high-speed rail in the north. Higgins highlighted the importance of east-west connectivity across the north, concluding that the journey time between Leeds and Manchester could be slashed from 55 minutes to between 26 and 34 minutes.
‘Improving connectivity and reducing journey times between our great northern cities is a crucial part of our long-term economic plan for the north to boost businesses and create more jobs and security for hardworking people,’ said Prime Minister David Cameron.
‘That’s why we are backing HS3.’
Chancellor George Osborne added: ‘The vision I set out earlier this year of the northern powerhouse we could build is rapidly taking shape. I asked Sir David Higgins to look at how we deliver the better transport links across the north that would make a reality of that powerhouse.
‘I’m delighted with the rapid response and the report. Today we take another big step forward in delivering both the HS2 links from north to south and the HS3 link across the Pennines.’
Higgins also recommended that co-operation on transport issues be formalised in the north.
As a result, Osborne announced that new body – Transport for the North – would be created to work across all the main northern city regions.
The body has been charged with producing a comprehensive transport strategy for the region, including options, costs and a delivery timetable for an HS3 east-west rail link. Its interim report is to be published next March.
Ministers also launched a review into the costs and time it takes to build high-speed rail, which would draw on international examples to find ways to bring down the costs of Phase Two of HS2.
Pressure group Stop HS2 said Higgins’ report showed that the government’s high-speed rail plans had not been thought through properly.
Campaign manager Joe Rukin said: ‘We have been saying since the start that if you want to help regenerate the north, you would spend the money there, and the very last thing you would do is make it quicker to get to London.
‘Up until now, northern cities have been offered HS2 or nothing, now there is something else on the table, which would actually help the north, support for HS2 will crumble. The proposal for HS3 is just an admission that HS2 will not deliver the growth for the North which has been promised and a load of new stuff is needed to make HS2 work, but this will still not provide connectivity and focuses on just two cities.’
