HS3 ‘illogical’ says Mayor Joe

LIVERPOOL Mayor Joe Anderson has described the HS3 plans for high speed rail across the North as “disappointing and illogical” for by-passing Liverpool.

A commitment to the first Manchester-Leeds stage was given in a report by HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins.

But Mayor Anderson said the Government was prioritising some Northern cities at the expense of others.

“Far from a One North agenda the Government and HS2 Ltd are putting forward a Two North solution which is excluding many of our northern cities and communities from the promise of greater economic prosperity.”

He added: “Liverpool has to be an integral part of any meaningful HS3 project. We are the UK’s western trading gateway, and as David Higgins recognises, the transformational impact of our investment in the Liverpool 2 port expansion on the North’s freight-handling can only be achieved through additional rail capacity. A high speed line to Liverpool would give us that capacity, connect us to HS2 and be the logical first phase for HS3.

“We built the world’s first inter-city railway to Manchester nearly 200 years ago, and that link remains the obvious logical starting point for the creation of a Northern Powerhouse – two neighbouring cities, with close economic links, strong passenger demand and with the critical mass and global connectivity to rival London.”