Every transport project Sunak claims will happen instead of HS2 in …

Rishi Sunak unveiled today unveiled plans for a new 'network north' which he claimed would improve connectivity in the region - after scrapping the northern section of HS2.^[1]

After weeks of speculation, Mr Sunak used his keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference to finally confirm that the long-standing plans for the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the brand-new high-speed line were being shelved.^[2]

However, he pledged that he would 'reinvest every single penny, £36 billion, in hundreds of new transport projects in the north and the midlands, across the country,' including road, rail and bus schemes improvement schemes.

He dubbed the new project 'Network North' and said it would 'join up our great cities in the North and Midlands.' "No government has ever developed a more ambitious scheme for northern transport," he claimed.

Mr Sunak promised train journeys from Manchester on a 'fully electrified line' to a new station in Bradford in 30 minutes, Sheffield in 42 minutes and Hull in one hour and 24 minutes.

He also said the government would 'protect the £12 billion to link up Manchester and Liverpool as planned' and that they would 'engage with local leaders on how best to deliver the scheme.'

He name-checked a number of projects that would be now be prioritised, however did not give any more information or costing for any.

These included:

• The Midlands Rail hub which would 'connect 50 different stations'
• Extension of the West Midlands Metro
• Building of a new tram network in Leeds
• Electrification of the North Wales Mainline

• Keep the £2 cap on single bus fares across England

• Upgrades to major roads including the A1, A2, A5 and M6

• An upgrade to the A75 to boost links between Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Funding for the Shipley Bypass in Bradford, the Blyth Relief Road in Northumberland and '70 other road schemes'
• Resurfacing of roads 'across the country'
• Reopen the Don Valley railway line between Sheffield and Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire.
• Upgrade the Energy Coast railway line between Carlisle, Workington and Barrow, Cumbria.
• Build 'hundreds of other schemes'

Mr Sunak said that the redirecting of the funds from HS2 to other projects would 'will make a real difference across our nation.'

“As a result of the decision we are taking today, every region outside of London will receive the same or more government investment than they would have done under HS2, with quicker results," he said.

However, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham described Mr Sunak's decision to can the HS2 Manchester leg as one of a number of 'short-term, desperate decisions from a dying government.'

After Mr Sunak's speech, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said some of the money that will be redirected away from HS2 to other transport projects in the North will be “available sooner rather than later”.

Speaking to reporters at the Conservative Party conference, Mr Harper said: “We will be working closely with mayors in the North and the Midlands of all political parties to deliver for the people that we all seek to serve.”

“HS2 was not going to arrive in this city for 20 years, so we are taking the money we are saving. Some of it will be available sooner rather than later.

“Of course it’s not all going to be available next year to spend, but it was never going to be spent all next year on HS2.”

He added: “This set of transport needs I think are closer to what people want to see than what was on the table before.”

References

1. ^{^} the northern section of HS2. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Manchester leg of the brand-new high-speed line were being shelved. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Andy Burnham and Northern leaders' last-ditch plan to save HS2 if Rishi Sunak axes Manchester leg (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^{^} The Tories have insulted Greater Manchester again - it all feels very familiar (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)