MPs have been urged to remember that HS2 will continue through Lichfield and the surrounding area rather than terminating in Birmingham.
The point was raised by Conservative MP Michael Fabricant after a number of members had spoken of the phase one route of the controversial high speed rail scheme.
It comes after questions were raised over whether the project will be completed in full.
The Lichfield MP told Transport Minister Richard Holden:
“May I remind the House, journalists, and the chairman of the Transport Committee that the area under discussion which is beyond phase one does not end in Birmingham – it goes north of Birmingham and then joins the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre, just by Lichfield.
“If HS2 is abandoned at that point, high-speed trains can still run down from Manchester on the existing West Coast Main Line and join the high-speed line at Handsacre.
“Does that not make good economic sense? Will the Minister please pass that on to the Treasury?”
Michael Fabricant
The Minister replied
“That is exactly what would happen in that scenario – I will pass on the point he makes to the Treasury.”
Richard Holden
Doubts have been raised over whether or not the next phase of the HS2 project towards Manchester will go ahead amid spiralling costs.
Lichfield’s MP said it made sense for the controversial line to hit the buffers at this stage.
“By stopping any further work on HS2 at the end of phase one – at Handsacre and not Birmingham – it will save the country tens of billions of pounds.
“High speed trains could run down from Manchester at 140mph or more, speeding up to 180mph when the dedicated HS2 line is reached – that would make good economic sense given that rail usage is now reduced with more people working from home.
“If this plan is adopted, residents in the Ridwares and Abbots Bromley in the Lichfield constituency will not have to feel the pain that those living around Lichfield have had to suffer.
“I know there is strong debate on this subject in cabinet, but I am told a final decision will have to be made in advance of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 22nd November.”
Michael Fabricant
So much destruction and devastation has already been done, we cannot get the greenbelt land back. However still calling it HS2 High speed is deflecting from the alleged increase in capacity for passengers AND FREIGHT. It is cleaner, greener and more efficient to get the trucks off the road it was so nice during lockdown without them and it could be in the future too. However what jobs will there be for the general population who will not be able to afford to travel on HS2. People from Lichfield will not be able to get on in Lichfield wether it goes ahead or not.
I’ve being saying that this is the sensible option for the last 3 years. The capacity issues on the west coast line only ever extended from London to Rugby, and now that Covid has played its part there is no danger of stretching the capacity on the WCL beyond this point
I suggest Fabricant and Jon S read the West Coast Main Line Capacity Assessment. Without the HS2 extention there simply is not the end to end capacity to run additional HS trains. This means they will run at the expense of the trains that currently use the the line. That includes, of course, the ones that stop at Lichfield. A poorer service for us.
While it is true that the southern section of HS2 will create extra train capacity in the South, Mr Fabricant appears to be unaware of capacity problems in the Midlands and North of England.
Both Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds operate at full capacity now, so there is no possibility of improving local services or creating a new East – West link across the North. Major rebuilding of both stations and their approach lines is a prerequisite for any expansions.
Given that rail usage returned to 100%+ of pre-covid levels in February 2023, the notion of reduced demand is a myth, that will not become true, however many times Mr Fabricant repeats it.
The management of the HS2 project has been woeful, but the project remains our only viable way of increasing train capacity on the WCML, MML and ECML.
Plans to further reduce the number of platforms at HS2 Euston and / or rely on Old Oak Common are just absurd, as they will permanently halve capacity on the whole of HS2.
Really if Lichfield is going to take all the pain anyway (in Phase 1) I really don’t see the point (from our perspective) in wanting the project to stop. It might as well carry on so at least we get some benefit (from a capacity perspective) out of it.
I am adding a second contribution in defence of ‘BigStephenS’ and in response to the current three ‘dislikes’ of his views.
He offers an evidence based analysis, which matches the views of rail professionals and can be confirmed by any regular user of the WCML.
If HS2 is not extended to Manchester, as might now be the case, then additional train capacity on that route has to be created somehow.
The only mechanism left would be to end through trains serving Lichfield, Tamworth and Nuneaton, leaving the local residents to start every journey by travelling to New Street. With no stopping trains, one or possibly two extra trains (per hour) could run to Manchester.
In Manchester, extra capacity for London expresses could only be generated by reducing / eliminating local services, to free up platform capacity in Piccadilly.
Contributors may well ‘dislike’ these facts, but that doesn’t change the reality of an existing rail network that is operating at maximum capacity.
Liverpool, Glasgow & Manchester trains will join HS2 at Hansacre, not just Manchester trains.
From Old Oak common to Liverpool/Manchester will be around 1 hour 30-35 minutes. How fast do hey want it?