At the Labour Party Conference, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham warned of an impending transport crisis in the North of England following the government’s decision to cancel the northern leg of the HS2 project.
Burnham urged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to reverse the previous government’s decision to scrap this vital part of the rail project, advocating for a revised, more affordable version of the original plan. He argued that terminating HS2 in Birmingham would deteriorate rail services in the North, resulting in slower trains and fewer seats.
According to Burnham, if HS2 trains run on the West Coast Main Line (WCML), which lacks the necessary capacity for double-length carriages and high-speed curves, the result would be a “worse train service than we’ve currently got.” The original HS2 project intended to connect London and Manchester; however, it was scaled back in 2023 under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to save £36 billion, eliciting widespread outrage across the North.
Burnham is now advocating for a lower-cost alternative, the Midlands-Northwest Rail Link, which would connect Lichfield to High Legh, near Warrington, with backing from private investment. This project, Burnham stated, could solve regional transport issues at a fraction of HS2’s original cost. He emphasised that Britain risks “sleepwalking toward a transport nightmare” unless investment is made to modernise rail infrastructure, particularly as the WCML and M6 motorway reach capacity.
Burnham also supports extending HS2 from Old Oak Common into London’s Euston Station. He asserted, “people in the North of England should be able to get into the heart of our capital city.” His comments coincided with concerns raised by the National Audit Office regarding capacity issues subsequent to the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2.
He also warned that upgrading the WCML alone would be highly disruptive and insufficient to meet future demands.
Burnham’s steadfast advocacy underscores the urgency of reassessing the HS2 project’s northern leg. Without it, the North faces significant transport challenges that could impede regional development and connectivity.
