HIGH SPEED TO
THE NORTH WEST -
WHEN, WHERE & WHEN?
The North-West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT) Forum A network has got to be the long-term plan. Finance is a
held a recent debate on the Government’s long-term plans to question and we will need a decent level of investment.
construct a new High Speed rail line between London and the Ian Wray agreed that we need capacity and reliability.
North of England. The Department of Transport’s view had been influenced by
the Eddington Report. The battle we have is to demonstrate
On the panel with NWBLT Chief Executive, Geoffrey Piper, were: the benefits to the region.
Ian Wray
Chief Planner at the NWDA
With reference to stops David Thrower suggested a stop south
Keith Rudd
of Manchester, there is a strong argument to use Manchester
Group Board Director at Arup with responsibilities for
Airport as a rail/road interchange. Another suggestion is
Manchester and Liverpool
Stockport. Graham Sutherland said the link with the airport is
key. There is an economic case and environmental benefits and
Allan McLean
Ian Wray referred to the areas which are within one hour’s
Communications Manager in Scotland and North of
travel of London. McLean said we should not be London
England for Virgin Trains
centric and look at what is happening in other countries, for
Graham Sutherland
example, Spain. We should look at other journeys, Manchester
Principal Consultant with Ikonrisk Consulting
to Glasgow not just to London. It was agreed we need to
David Thrower
address the world beyond Birmingham.
TAS Partnership
Geoffrey asked if it was possible to make real strides in the next
Geoffrey opened the debate by asking why should we have parliament and what are the arguments for this kind of investment
another railway connecting North West with London and Europe? to be made and provide the stimulus the economy needs?
Allan McLean referred to a recent report which stated there Graham Sutherland said it is essential for politicians to deliver
would be an increase in passenger numbers on the West Coast on this. David Thrower suggested he was an optimist and it was
Main Line of 104% - so we need more capacity. Graham a question of when, not if, although it might not be built all at
Sutherland said he believed that a High Speed network would once. We will certainly have a line to the North of England,
contribute to the economic prosperity of the region and the probably the North West rather than the North East, with a
country and David Thrower felt the present networks were HS3 to Newcastle. Lobbying over the last 3 years looking at a
unreliable - motorways and rail: range of issues - capacity, reliability and also carbon emissions
and hitting targets - had made a difference. Rail travel is also
“We need reliability and capacity. We won’t get a second M6 very safe. Ian Wray said an important issue is the political will.
or a low speed railway - it is difficult to put down extra track
because of housing. The only way is to build a High Speed David Thrower concluded by predicting that a High Speed Line
passenger line.” will almost certainly be built to Birmingham with an open door
to Manchester. With regard to the Manchester Hub there is an
Asked where the railway would go from and to and where it extremely strong case for investment in the rail network. It is
would stop, Allan McLean explained that HS2 Limited is better to have both even if we don’t get all of it. Geoffrey closed
looking at a line to Birmingham, but there will be no benefits the debate by emphasising the urgency of action now, if the next
of just going to the West Midlands. generation is to see the benefits of the High Speed links.
WORK - 13
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