National Audit Office report warns that decision to axe northern leg of high speed line will result in trains having fewer seats than existing services
Unlike existing Pendolino rolling stock, HS2 trains will be unable to tilt to take corners on the WCML at a higher speed
Pressure is building on the government to revive plans to extend HS2 north of Birmingham after the National Audit Office warned that the last govertnment’s decision to scrap the northern leg of the project could lead to lower capacity, and potentially higher prices for trains between London and Manchester.
“Department for Transport plans for HS2 trains to run from the phase 1 track onto the West Coast Main Line in place of conventional trains, but the trains will have fewer seats than existing services unless changes are made to existing infrastructure and stations to accommodate longer trains,” said the NAO in a report.
Unlike existing Pendolino rolling stock, HS2 trains will be unable to tilt to take corners on the WCML at a higher speed. They also carry fewer passengers.It’s a point that many in the rail industry have been making since then prime minister Rishi Sunak announced his decision scrap the northern leg last October.
By the Department for Transport’s assessment, the West Coast Main Line will be at capacity by the mid-2030s. Not doing anything to address this would be a brake on growth
Responding to the NAO report, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham called for the DfT to explore construction of an alternative new rail line, potentially using land already purchased for the HS2 project.
He said: “By the Department for Transport’s assessment, the West Coast Main Line will be at capacity by the mid-2030s. Not doing anything to address this would be a brake on growth.”
He added: “The idea that we are going to make rail services worse by the middle of the century is a complete non-starter – a different plan is needed. This is an urgent problem that needs a coherent solution. No-one is talking about going back to HS2, but there has to be additional capacity between the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.”
This article appears in the latest issue of Passenger Transport.
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The post NAO adds to pressure to find HS2 solution first appeared on Passenger Transport.