Download document:
Higgins Report – HS2 Plus - .PDF file.
Moves to create an economic powerhouse in northern England have edged closer with government backing for a high-speed rail link connecting cities in the region.
The endorsement from prime minister David Cameron and chancellor George Osborne follows the publication of a report by Sir David Higgins, chairman of High Speed Two (HS2), which sees reduced journey times between Leeds and Manchester as one step in an overall strategy toward improving links between Liverpool and Hull.
Sir David’s report also said that journeys between Leeds and Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield Meadowhall, York and Birmingham, and Nottingham to Birmingham could also be reduced by a half or more, with many more journeys across the country substantially shortened. The report recommends that co-operation on transport issues should be formalised in the north too.

‘Improving connectivity is vital if Britain is to compete in the knowledge economy in which this country has a competitive advantage, but in which ease of travel is an essential element,’ he said in a statement. ‘Knowledge based companies – whether they are in high-tech manufacturing, the creative industries, finance or the law – have to be close, or feel close to the talent, skills base, support network, knowledge pools, collaborators and clients necessary to create the ‘hot-house atmosphere’ in which they thrive. That is why reducing the journey times between and within our cities isn’t just desirable for both passengers and freight. It is a strategic necessity.’
With a high-speed link the journey time between Leeds and Manchester could be cut from around 55 to between 26 and 34 minutes
In response the chancellor announced the creation of Transport for the North. Made up of the main northern city regions, this body is expected to work with other authorities and stakeholders to allow the north to ‘speak with one voice’.
The government, working with Transport for the North, will now produce a comprehensive transport strategy for the region, including options and a delivery timetable for a HS3 east west rail connection. An interim report will be produced in March 2015.
By combining the strengths northern cities, the government believes that the proposals will help transform the economy of the region and play a key role in delivering a Northern Powerhouse, a concept described by the chancellor in June 2104 as ’not one city, but a collection of northern cities – sufficiently close to each other that combined they can take on the world.’
Chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: ‘We owe it to taxpayers to make sure the benefits of these projects are maximised and the costs are tightly controlled. Today’s report shows how better transport links will help unleash the north’s tremendous potential for growth which will benefit the whole of the UK.
‘As I said when I launched the National Infrastructure plan, excellent infrastructure is essential if we are to build a stronger economy and fairer society.’
‘This report tackles the perception that HS2 is a project being developed in isolation, and re-positions it as an integral part of a wider transport system which carries the potential to spread growth right across the country – this is a much needed and welcome shift in the debate.’
Nick Baveystock Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) director general
Sir David’s comments and recommendations are contained in his second report on the future of HS2. Rebalancing Britain: from HS2 towards a national transport strategy – looks at the prospects for improving connectivity across the North of England and the Midlands.
The four main proposals are:
- Need to take forward both legs of the proposed HS2 Y-network – the alternatives will not bring the same capacity, connectivity and economic benefits.
- Improve the rail services between east and west – sharply reducing journey times between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull will stimulate local economies. Sir David says the journey from Leeds to Manchester could be cut from today’s average of over 55 minutes to somewhere between 26 and 35 minutes, depending on which option is chosen, and the number of trains could be doubled.
- Northern cities should speak with one voice – local authorities from five key cities should join together to form a new body. Sir David suggests calling the group Transport for the North.
- Set out a timetable to develop a new transport strategy – building on the One North report to decide on an approach for improving rail and road connectivity across and within the region north of Birmingham.
The report from Sir David Higgins also gives strong backing to the case for Phase Two of HS2 and sets out proposals to maximise its benefits. His proposals include bringing forward plans for a hub station at Crewe to 2027 and a fundamental review of the right solution for Leeds station to allow connections between HS2, existing rail services and improved east west connections.
The government will set out its detailed plans for Phase Two in 2015.
Great, more subsidised fast rail systems for the wealthy…
But at least they will be Northern Wealthy…
Come on Jevon, be a little supportive? haven’t you heard of the trickle-down effect of giving those at the top of the dung-heap even more advantages, so that they can spend the resulting wealth generated (that is when they are not salting it away off-shore) on keeping the lower-orders in work at the minimum wage?
Let me see: we have just (today) stopped the running financial river that the military had diverted to Afghanistan from flowing: albeit it had soaked-up (along with quite a lot of blood) £45 billion…so as far as I am concerned, any tunnel, railway line, road development, school, university, hospital…is a much better use of public money.
Its a step in the right direction but only the first of many needed.
London has been doing this for a hundred years and has received the appropriate subsidy to achieve this, consequently its reaped the awards and left the rest of the country behind. Now its time for SUSTAINED re-balancing.
When one can treat living and working in the North as someone can in London, then we will have arrived.
HS3 is a nice 50 mile dream. Where do they think they are going to route it? North of Bradford, e.g. Wharfe Valley and Burnley or south of Dewsbury and via Woodhead? Either direction will add phenomenal cost and journey time.
It took long enough to build HS1 straight across Kent; HS3 has far more geography in the way.
The argument is either to reduce journey time or release room for freight on the old line.The view on this changes daily. How much more freight would be taken from Manchester to Hull or vice versa which would not involve an initial road journey to the rail-head?
Far better to fully update the Calder Valley line via Morley with new, reliable rolling stock with sufficiently long trains running every 20 minutes and missing out the dead end at Bradford. Much cheaper and far more effective.
A good idea long overdue. Its been a longstanding problem not that London is necessarily too large but that the UK’s other cities are not nearly large/dense enough to keep up.
Shove a lot of people in proximity and they become more productive/creative and at least with HS3 the growth stays in the north rather than literally siphoned off to the south
@ anonymous: where do they think they are going to route it?
One option is a fast-connector from Manchester Victoria to Rochdale and then following the M62 corridor eastwards through the economic barrier of the Pennines to Leeds:
http://hsnorthstart.wordpress.com/
It would halve the current one hour rail time between Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds and join up a Northern Cities Crossrail from Liverpool in the west to Hull in the east.
For best impact on the North South Divide, the Northern Cities Crossrail would need to be joined up and open before work on HS2 starts.
The HS3 would “save” about 15-20 minutes on a journey between stations. What is really needed is volume, not speed. However, you don’t get volume if the cost is too high. Furthermore, you have to get to and from the stations before you get to “save” your 15-20 minutes. More cost. It’s more convenient and cheaper to use the M62.
Mass public transit only works if it is heavily subsidised and therefore affordable. It was always and ever will be thus.
HS3 is a nice 50 mile dream. Where do they think they are going to route it? North of Bradford, e.g. Wharfe Valley and Burnley or south of Dewsbury and via Woodhead? Either direction will add phenomenal cost and journey time.
It took long enough to build HS1 straight across Kent; HS3 has far more geography in the way.
The argument is either to reduce journey time or release room for freight on the old line.The view on this changes daily. How much more freight would be taken from Manchester to Hull or vice versa which would not involve an initial road journey to the rail-head?
Far better to fully update the Calder Valley line via Morley with new, reliable rolling stock with sufficiently long trains running every 20 minutes and missing out the dead end at Bradford. Much cheaper and far more effective.