'˜Make HS2 line ready for HS3'

THE planned HS2 rail line through Yorkshire should be built ready to connect to future trans-Pennine high speed rail services, the company developing the scheme will be told.
HS2 Ltd is being asked to make sure its plans include junctions to connect it to the future Northern Powerhouse Rail networkHS2 Ltd is being asked to make sure its plans include junctions to connect it to the future Northern Powerhouse Rail network
HS2 Ltd is being asked to make sure its plans include junctions to connect it to the future Northern Powerhouse Rail network

West Yorkshire councils are asking HS2 Ltd to include a series of junctions in its plans for the route through the region to make sure it integrates with emerging proposals for a high speed east-west rail network.

HS2 will connect Leeds and Sheffield via a high speed rail link to Birmingham and London and the Government-backed company developing the project is consulting on the route it will take through Yorkshire.

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Plans are also being developed for a new high speed rail network across the North, known as Northern Powerhouse Rail or HS3, and HS2 Ltd is being asked to build junctions ready to connect the two together.

Under current plans, HS2 trains serving the centre of Sheffield will terminate in the city but the West Yorkshire Combined Authority - which brings the area’s councils together on transport issues - is calling for a junction to be allowed which would allow those services to continue to Leeds.

The same junction would allow future NPR services to connect the two cities, reducing travel times to 25 minutes.

Further junctions around Leeds station are proposed to give more flexibility over the routes high speed trains could take.

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HS2 Ltd is also considering proposals for an extra parkway station in South Yorkshire and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is arguing the fact it could also be used by NPR services should be taken into account when the decision is taken over whether it goes ahead.

Speaking in the Commons today, Sheffield South-East MP Clive Betts criticised the lack of co-ordination between the two projects.

He said: “The Government has said that one of the benefits of HS2 will be how well it links in to other forms of transport and integrates with them

“Why then in looking at the alternatives for HS2’s route through Sheffield and South Yorkshire is there no reference to how HS2 connects to HS3?

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Responding, Transport Minister Andrew Jones, the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, rejected the criticism and said it was likely parts of HS2 would be used for NPR.

HS2 passed a landmark today as the legislation allowing the building of the first phase of the line between London and Birmingham became law with construction expected to start later this year.

Parliament will be asked to pass a further Bill for phase two of the project, a Y-shape from Birmingham to Manchester in the West and Leeds in the East, when the route has been agreed.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Getting the go-ahead to start building HS2 is a massive boost to the UK’s future economic prosperity and a further clear signal that Britain is open for business.

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“HS2 will be the world’s most advanced passenger railway and the backbone of our rail network.”

But Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman described the passing of the phase one Bill as “another step towards the national folly that is HS2” and raised concerns about the rising estimated costs of the project.

He called on the Government to spend the money instead on “fast network rail in the North of England and the NHS”.