Fears of HS2 being scrapped are ‘nonsense’, says Minister
Costs spiralling for flagship rail project
THE RAIL Minister has described claims that the northern stages of HS2 will be scrapped as “nonsense” amid fears that the Government is planning to scale back the project because of its mounting costs.
Speaking at the Transport for the North conference in Sheffield yesterday, Andrew Jones said cancelling any part of the flagship 224mph rail scheme connecting London to Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham would be a “betrayal of the North”.
And the Harrogate MP said it was not a matter of choosing between HS2 and the £39bn Northern Powerhouse Rail project connecting the biggest cities of the North as “both are needed for our region”.
He spoke amid reports that the Government is considering the future of HS2 due to concerns over its spiralling costs. A Channel 4 documentary last night claimed that although published national accounts show HS2 will rise to an average cost of £4.2bn a year over the next ten years, Ministers have secretly allocated up to £6bn a year.
Mr Jones said some 2,000 business had already been handed contracts for HS2, which is due to operate its first trains in 2026 and arrive in Leeds by 2033.
And he said key decisions on Northern Powerhouse Rail would have to be made in the next year for the scheme to be included in the legislation for the northern stage of HS2 when it is laid in Parliament. He said: “We have all probably seen some media reports claiming the northern stages of HS2 might not be built. They are nonsense.
“HS2 was conceived and developed and is now being delivered as a national railway, and in particular to improve links with the North and Midlands. Our commitment to HS2, a full network to Leeds and Manchester, is undiminished.
“HS2 won’t solve everything, it can’t tackle the east-west links we need so badly, that is why we also need the Northern Powerhouse Rail. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a huge leap in unlocking the full potential of the North, complementing the improvements that HS2 will bring and sharing parts of the infrastructure that HS2 will be creating.
“These are both transformational projects, they will be bring new life to the towns and cities of the North and free up capacity on our road and rail networks. It is not one or the other, it is both, both are needed for our region.”
Northern leaders who make up the TfN board last week gave their approval for the business case for Northern Powerhouse Rail, which officials say will help create 850,000 new jobs by 2050, to be submitted to government.
And Steve Rotheram, the Labour mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said it was vital for the scheme to get funding and be built before the proposed ‘Crossrail 2’ project providing a new North-South rail link across London.
He told the conference: “Anything other than full-blooded support for NPR from the Government will say to me that they have given up, given up on northern commuters, given up on northern jobs and businesses and ultimately given up on our northern towns and cities.”
It is not one or the other, it is both, both are needed for our region.
Rail Minister Andrew Jones talks about HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail
AT LEAST Andrew Jones, the Rail Minister, acknowledged the size of his task facing him when he addressed Transport for the North’s latest policy conference. “I am keenly aware of under-investment in transport,” the Harrogate MP told his audience.
His tone was more constructive than the stance previously taken by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling who was receiving a vote of confidence from 10 Downing Street as Mr Jones actually sought to build bridges with business and political leaders.
Yet words alone will not suffice. Mr Jones, appointed two months ago today, will be judged by his actions and whether he can even restore confidence in the Department for Transport after it was brought into such disrepute by Mr Grayling’s many scandals.
And, for starters, the Minister has three key tests. First HS2 and mounting concerns over its cost. Though Mr Jones said reports speculating about the cancellation of the scheme’s Northern sections were “nonsense”, public and political opposition will grow unless Ministers make a more convincing economic case.
Next Northern Powerhouse Rail. Though Mr Jones understands the scheme’s obvious potential, and how it can complement HS2, passengers are alarmed that work improving links between the North’s key cities may not begin for another five years when they believe the need is immediate.
Finally, Mr Jones will only win the confidence of commuters here by taking decisive action against those private train operators, like Northern and TransPennine Express, whose shoddy service is tantamount to a breach of contract. This is key. If the Minister emerges from the shadows and wins this battle, it will show that he means business when it comes to standing up for the North to ensure that his region – Mr Jones is rightly proud of his Yorkshire roots – receives fairer funding at the very least in the future.