Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has issued a stark warning: the North of England could face ‘Armageddon’ if the HS2 project’s northern leg is not completed. Speaking at the Labour Party Conference, Burnham implored Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to overturn the previous government’s decision to scrap this crucial leg of the high-speed rail project.
Burnham argued that halting HS2 in Birmingham would severely degrade rail services in the North, causing slower trains and fewer available seats. He highlighted that the existing West Coast Main Line (WCML) lacks the necessary capacity for double-length carriages and high-speed curves, thereby jeopardising the quality of train service.
Midlands-Northwest Rail Link, a more affordable alternative backed by private investment, has been proposed as a solution. This project aims to connect Lichfield with High Legh near Warrington, potentially easing regional transport issues at a lower cost than the original HS2 plan.
Burnham emphasised the alarming risk of Britain ‘sleepwalking toward a transport nightmare’ without significant investment in rail infrastructure. The WCML and the M6 motorway are already nearing their capacity limits, necessitating urgent modernisation.
Moreover, Burnham called for the extension of HS2 from Old Oak Common to London’s Euston Station, arguing that residents of the North should have direct access to the heart of the capital. His concerns have been echoed by the National Audit Office, which recently flagged capacity issues due to the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2.
Finally, Burnham warned that simply upgrading the WCML would be highly disruptive and insufficient to meet future demands. He stressed that a more comprehensive solution is required to avert a looming transportation crisis.
The urgency in Andy Burnham’s call to action underscores the critical need for strategic investment in the UK’s rail infrastructure. Without such measures, the North faces a dire future of inadequate transport options and significantly reduced rail service quality.