Ahead of schedule HS2 could speed up growth in Greater Birmingham claims LEP

A FASTER delivery of the HS2 high speed rail scheme could speed up economic change in the West Midlands, a senior LEP member in Greater Birmingham has claimed.

Welcoming  comments by HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins that the timetable for the £50bn project should be brought forward by at least six years, Andrew Cleaves, Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP board director with responsibility for transport, said the move could have profound implications for the partnership’s Strategic Economic Plan.

The plan, set to be submitted to Government at the end of the month, outlines how HS2 will play a significant in helping to deliver a £3bn boost to the West Midlands economy and create tens of thousands of new jobs over the decade following its opening.

“We are encouraged by David Higgins’ commitment to accelerating the delivery of HS2 so that the UK benefit from the investment even sooner,” said Cleaves.

“HS2 puts Greater Birmingham where it belongs, at the heart of a national high speed network, and any moves to bring this forward are to be applauded.

“It is also welcome that David Higgins is championing the potential of HS2 being a catalyst for fundamental change.”

He said much of the LEPs case for economic changes was supported in its SEP.

“Much of our strategy to drive economic development is linked to maximising the job and growth opportunities offered by both the building and the operation of HS2,” added Cleaves.

“Not least, our SEP focuses on a package of transport measures designed to integrate our local infrastructure into HS2 and provide a step change in local connectivity.

“What we want to see now is the legislative timetable necessary to get HS2 underway to give further confidence to the UK that the project is pressing ahead.”

Sir David will be giving evidence to the House of Commmons Transport Select Committee today (Tuesday) as MPs hear more about the environmental impact of the rail scheme.

Also being questioned by MPs will be Lord Deighton, Commercial Secretary to the Treasury and chair of the HS2 Growth Taskforce.

Louise Ellman MP, chair of the Transport Committee, said: “I welcome the proposals to bring forward construction of the new railway to Crewe and to link HS2 more closely to the existing network, including improving east-west links between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hull.

“The Transport Committee has been calling for those kind of changes. We will be examining those proposals, and the suggested changes to the connection between HS1 and HS2.”

Elsewhere, the announcement by Sir David that the link across North London from HS2 to HS1 just outside St. Pancras Station be scrapped has prompted lobby group Campaign for Rail to seek a dedicated two-track route to replace it.   

CfR media officer, Ian Jenkins said: “What has been scrapped was a link connecting into one of London’s busy suburban lines, along which High Speed trains would follow slow local services. It was never a sensible proposal.  It’s time to plan a better route, one of the most important rail links that the country could have, to join HS2 to HS1.”

West Midlands-based CfR said it believed direct trains from Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds through the Channel Tunnel to Continental Europe were vital to regional prosperity.  Paris would be just over three hours from Birmingham by direct train.  It will be more attractive than flying.  

Mr Jenkins added:  “HS2 should not just be about services from the north to London, it should connect the backbone of UK Plc into Europe.   Without a new link from HS2 to HS1, passengers would face the disincentive of getting from Euston to St. Pancras stations and rail would lose its competitiveness.”