Northern Infrastructure Pledge To Be Included In HS2 Decision.

Updated by February ,11, 2020

Prime minister Boris Johnson will commit to a significant northern infrastructure project when he announces his decision on High Speed 2 (HS2), it is understood.

Johnson is expected to give the green light to HS2 when he makes a final go/ no-go decision in the next two weeks.

He had been widely expected to announce his decision last week. However, New Civil Engineer has learned that Johnson delayed the announcement to devise a plan to placate those opposed to HS2 in the North.

It is understood that Johnson will now couple his HS2 decision with another announcement on something in the North.

It is unclear what that will look like. However, several rail industry figures have told New Civil Engineer that it could involve further commitments to Northern Powerhouse Rail, with the possibility of combining parts of the northern phases of HS2 with plans for the North East to North West line.

It could also involve changes to HS2’s Phase 2a (Crewe to Birmingham) and 2b (Crewe to Manchester and Birmingham to Leeds).

A leaked copy of the Oakervee review revealed by the BBC concludes that HS2 should “thoroughly examine […] alignment redesign” of the northern sections of the route.

"It is now hard to stop Phase 1 [London to Birmingham] and start HS2 in the north of England without years of blight given that powers have been taken for phase 1, and a significant amount of work has been carried out on phase 1," it adds.

"HS2 should thoroughly examine what gold-plating of standards can be removed on phase 2b (Crewe-Mancs & Brum-Leeds) to reduce costs, including alignment redesign if appropriate.”

The leaked report also suggests HS2 Ltd should “consider merging phase 2a (Brum-Crewe) with phase 1 (London-Brum).”

The report also gives stark warnings for the future of other rail schemes, such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, if HS2 is cancelled.

"Northern Powerhouse Rail and Midlands Engine Rail proposals all designed on premise that HS2 going ahead as currently planned and they use HS2 infrastructure," it says. “Cancelling HS2 would likely delay Northern Powerhouse Rail and Midlands Engine Rail."