“It’s time to re-set the North West’s rail needs”, says Greengauge 21 Director Jim Steer, introducing a new Greengauge 21 report on the subject.
The idea of stitching together a new Liverpool-Manchester railway with HS2’s planned route northwards from Crewe has come undone.
“We will be lucky if HS2 reaches Crewe after Government’s 2023 cutback”, Steer explains, adding: “further north the opportunity has gone – at least for the foreseeable future.”
While Government is happy to back upgrading the TransPennine Route York-Leeds-Manchester-Liverpool, it shows no sign of supporting new lines, including ‘Northern Powerhouse Rail’.
So what next?
Jim Steer says “there were three clear messages from a recent meeting held at the Heseltine Institute, University of Liverpool to consider whether rail is holding back the North West’s economic growth:
- The North West economy is strong but is being held back by weaknesses in its public transport system
- The Number 1 problem that must be tackled is the inadequacy of the rail network in central Manchester
- The role of the metro Mayors and Andy Burnham in particular will be crucial
“Re-fashioning the rail network in central Manchester is essential but needs leadership”, he adds. “Major rail projects need strong long-term champions. The ultimate success of Crossrail (now Elizabeth line), had the support and leadership of successive London Mayors.”
In comparison, thoughts of building a new railway between Liverpool and Manchester can be put to one side for now, Steer adds, pointing out that it would make better sense to get ‘early wins’ from improving services over the three existing lines between the two great cities.
You can read the report here: Greengauge 21 North West England – realistic regional rebalancing
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