Phase 2 of HS2 will be published in the autumn – Greening
THE Government will announce the second phase of the HS2 high speed rail link in the autumn, the Transport Secretary has said.
The plans will include the line’s route north from Birmingham where it will split at a Y-shaped junction near Lichfield with separate lines heading off to Leeds and Manchester.
Plans for stations at Heathrow, the East Midlands and South Yorkshire will also be included in the proposals, as well as advice on the case and potential locations for additional stations.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: “This is an important next step in our aspiration for a truly national high speed network, as set out in our Programme for Government.
“Phase 2 of High Speed Two will spread the benefits of high speed rail further across the country, increasing capacity and enhancing connectivity by extending high speed rail lines to Leeds and Manchester and connecting other major conurbations in the North and in Scotland through seamless transition onto the existing network.”
The plans will also cover the impact of Phase 2 of the line in releasing capacity on the existing Midland, East Coast and West Coast main lines.
“I will consider this advice objectively and in detail over the coming months, and I intend to publish it in the autumn together with a Government response setting out initial preferred route and station options,” added Ms Greening.
She said an important part of this process would be to consider the views of delivery partners in the cities where HS2 stations may be located.
“Understanding local desires and plans for development will be crucial in helping me reach initial preferences for station locations. I am particularly keen to ensure that the network best supports the economic potential of the cities and regions it serves, through well-integrated station locations that build on local and regional plans,” she added.
The publication will be followed by a widespread public consultation similar to that carried out for Phase 1 of the line between London and Birmingham which took place last year.
Only once a full public consultation has been launched and completed will any decisions be reached, added Ms Greening.
