Fears over possible threat to HS2 Leeds-Sheffield rail route

Suggestions that the HS2 rail route to Leeds and Sheffield could be scrapped to save money have been criticised by politicians and by the Transport for the North partnership. (TfN)

The high-speed network, which is intended to link London to Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds, could terminate in the Midlands, according to a Financial Times report.

The claims are said to have come from the independent review panel, which is being led by the former HS2 Ltd chairman, Douglas Oakervee, He was asked by Boris Johnson to conduct a review into whether to axe the hugely costly railway scheme.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority transport lead, said: “There will be grave long term consequences for the economy of the North and East of the UK if the eastern leg of HS2 isn’t delivered in full.

“It would sacrifice the £600m of annual GDP growth forecast from better connections between Leeds and Birmingham alone, while also putting at risk the expected 50,000 additional jobs HS2 would create in the Leeds City Region.

“The lack of additional capacity provided by HS2 would put further pressure on an existing network which is already struggling to cope with demand with 8% of East Coast Main Line intercity services already cancelled or significantly late and Leeds Station the third busiest outside of London and the fourth worst in the country for overcrowding at peak times.

“With trains between Leeds and Sheffield currently travelling at an average speed of 36mph, failure to deliver HS2 in full to Leeds while going ahead with a western leg providing services travelling at 250mph would condemn the North and East of the UK to second-class status.”

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and leader of Bradford Council, said: “Integration with HS2 at both Leeds and Manchester is central to achieving the full benefits of our plan for Bradford to be a city centre stop on Northern Powerhouse Rail.

“Connecting Bradford to an integrated high speed rail network would generate a £15bn boost to the economy of the North and the UK as a whole and it is inconceivable we would miss this tremendous opportunity.

“Our ambitions for a city centre station are part of a clear collective plan for integrated transport across the North of England which cannot be delivered if crucial elements are sacrificed on the basis of short-term considerations.

“We are united with our partners in the Connecting Britain campaign in calling for the delivery of HS2 phase 2b in full, integrated with Northern Powerhouse Rail, to ensure the full benefits of this investment are delivered for the UK economy.”

A Transport for the North spokesman said: “As indicated in the HS2 Phase 2b command paper, there is spare capacity on both the Western and Eastern legs of HS2 that could be used to deliver wider regional connectivity.

“It would therefore be a huge missed opportunity if the current ambition for HS2 and the benefits it could deliver for the North East of England are scaled back; and such a decision would be seen as out of touch with what northern leaders would expect as part of a truly 21st century pan-northern rail network.

“In Transport for the North’s submission to the Oakervee Review we have asked that in any review of governance structures of HS2 that TfN is included on the HS2 Board, so the North has a direct say over future development and construction of the northern legs.

“This would better prevent decisions being taken that are not in the interests of the North of England.

“Together, HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail will make significant direct contributions to the connectivity and capacity of the UK, and they will provide new high speed services across and from the North that better meet customer expectations, as well as support future economic growth for decades to come.”