Northern Powerhouse Rail could be hit by HS2 legal deadline

When first conceived by the Conservatives, the two high-speed rail networks crossing the country were interconnected.

HS2 was proposed to go from London Euston to Birmingham and onwards to Manchester and Leeds, while NPR was supposed to connect the great cities of the North with the HS2 line to Manchester Airport as the starting point.

However, in 2021 Boris Johnson scrapped the Leeds leg and in 2023 Rishi Sunak axed the Manchester segment, with mayors describing it as a “betrayal of the North”.

Greater Manchester and West Midland mayors Andy Burnham and Richard Parker, as well as former mayor Andy Street, have proposed to replace the Birmingham to Manchester leg with a route supported by private investment.

However, according to the I, Labour is reportedly set to allow the compulsory purchase powers to expire on the first part of that route, from Handacre to Crewe.

These are due to run out on February 11, leaving less than 60 days for the Government to extend the powers or allow them to expire.

The Department for Transport is content to allow them to expire, according to the I.

This would effectively kill off any hope of the line going north of Birmingham, and could also have serious implications for NPR.

Originally, this route connecting the North West with Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield was supposed to be started using HS2 track from Manchester Airport.

“The private sector stands ready to follow the leadership of our metro mayors Andy Burnham and Richard Parker and secure the funding and finance to build a new line at a lower cost than previously envisaged,” Northern Powerhouse Partnership chief executive Henri Murison said.

“A clear plan to deliver this in place by February will keep alive the powers to buy the remaining land needed.

“This would allow trains from cities like Leeds, Bradford and Manchester to carry on from Northern Powerhouse Rail to Birmingham.

“As soon as a privately financed and funded line to get trains to Crewe then the [NPR] business case improves dramatically.”

A spokesperson for the High Speed Rail Group added: The window for action is closing fast, so ministers must act now or risk entrenching a permanent North-South divide and losing the opportunity to deliver desperately needed rail infrastructure that will create a more connected economy, stronger regional opportunities and long-term growth in the North.”

The Government’s announcement on NPR has been repeatedly delayed, from the Spending Review to the Industrial Strategy and now beyond the Budget.

A Labour source said: “The problem is the Conservatives promised £17bn to the North West, but that money doesn’t exist.”

While the Yorkshire sections of the project appear to have been largely agreed, it is understood that upgrades in the North West, which would see Liverpool and Manchester better connected with Manchester Airport, are still being discussed.

Sir Keir Starmer recently said that he remains “absolutely committed to Northern Powerhouse Rail”.

Speaking at The Yorkshire Post’s Great Northern Conference this week, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “I’m prepared to accept some delay to the announcement around NPR because the work is being done behind closed doors to get us to a better position.

“There’s a huge amount of cynicism when it comes to big rail projects in this country given the history of the last decade.

“When the Government does announce NPR, and I’ve got every confidence they will, we need to see spades in the ground, we need to see those big schemes that we have collectively fought for.”

A DfT spokesperson said: “While we will not reverse the previous Government’s decision to cancel HS2 Phase 2, we recognise the importance of strong connectivity between Birmingham and Manchester and across the wider North.

“We will set out further plans to enhance rail links in the Midlands and the North in the coming months.”