HS2 boss demands overhaul of Pennine rail routes

Sir David Higgins said yesterday that transport bosses across the North should seek to emulate London’s success in securing funding for big ambitious rail projects such as the capital’s £19bn Crossrail line – due for completion in 2018 – and its proposed successor project, Crossrail Two, which Mayor Boris Johnson also hopes will be approved.

Sir David, who was head of Network Rail before taking on the chairmanship of HS2, told MPs the North must come up with proposals on a similar scale to improve east-west services between Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool if it wishes to compete with London in years to come.

Appearing before the Commons Transport Committee, Sir David said the North’s success in securing funding for the ‘Northern Hub’ package of rail improvements must only be the start,

“You ask anyone in the industry about Crossrail Two and most people understand,” he said.

“Crossrail Two probably won’t get started for another decade, and probably won’t be finished until 2030 and beyond. But everyone’s talking about Crossrail Two. They’ve probably even got Crossrail Three planned.

“No-one is talking about a Trans-Pennine One, or a Northern Hub Two. That’s what I’m challenging our industry and Northern leaders to take on.

“They need ambitious plans to improve a journey that is 35 miles between Leeds and Manchester, and takes nearly an hour. That is really unacceptable.”

Sir David dismissed concern from local MPs that his proposals to build a new transport hub at Crewe as part of the HS2 project will disadvantage Yorkshire by giving the North West access to high-speed services in 2027.

The disparity, he said, would be short-lived, as if Parliament moves quickly with the necessary legislation the link to Yorkshire open by 2030.