The National Infrastructure Commission’s Second National Infrastructure Assessment, published on 18 October, says the Government’s decision to axe northern phases of High Speed 2 ‘leave a major gap in the UK’s rail strategy around which a number of cities have based their economic growth plans.’
And, while the report notes that the Government has ‘committed to reallocate’ the funding from cancellation of Phases 2a and 2b, ‘it is not yet clear what the exact scope and delivery schedule is for the proposed new rail schemes.’
NIC Chair Sir John Armitt also said in interviews on 18 October he thought land acquired and safeguarded for phases 2a to Crewe and 2b to Manchester should be kept ‘for at least two or three years’ so more cost-effective solutions to providing rail capacity could be evaluated.
The NIC says a new and comprehensive long-term strategy which sets out how rail improvements will address capacity and connectivity challenges in the Midlands and the North is needed. It …
