These include the location of stations and connections to the existing rail network, and ensuring that the line is ‘future proofed’ to accommodate potential future expansion. It also urged Government to move swiftly with plans to connect Scotland to the network.
In its response to the consultation on the proposed route from Birmingham to Leeds, Manchester and beyond, ICE said it remained supportive of HS2 as a suitable option for increasing rail capacity, connectivity and access to new markets - and that it was satisfied with the proposed route for Phase Two.
To further improve the proposal and benefits, it advised Government to:
- Further examine the case for providing the Liverpool city-region with a dedicated HS2 branch and service
- Ensure station locations offer the most convenient interchange between high speed services, the existing line and other local transport services - e.g. the proposed location for Leeds New Lane station is quite remote from the existing hub at Leeds City station and from the city centre. Similarly, the proposed station near Manchester Airport (as opposed to penetrating the airport directly) is located west of the M56 motorway, which would not offer easy interchange with the airport terminals or existing rail services
- Consider whether designs are sufficiently ‘future-proof’ to facilitate potential future expansion of the high speed network – e.g. the proposed stations at Leeds New Lane and Manchester City centre could constrain further expansion due to their terminus configuration
- Work closely with the city-regions benefiting from the ‘parkway’ stations on the eastern leg of HS2 to further develop ideas for fast and convenient transport links to East Midlands (from Toton) and South Yorkshire (from Meadowhall) city centres.
ICE also recommended Government:
- Ensures options for future expansion of the high speed network to Scotland are factored into the planning and design for HS2 - so Scotland can be connected to the high speed service as quickly as possible
- Positions HS2 not as an isolated project but as an integral part of a National Transport Strategy which sets out a vision for comprehensive, integrated future transport across all modes
- Engages in further dialogue with stakeholders to examine how regional, local and freight services may be best enhanced on the existing railway (e.g. through recasting/improving timetables due to released capacity) once HS2 comes into operation so that communities without a direct connection to the high speed network also benefit from HS2 investment.
Chair of ICE’s High Speed Rail Expert Panel, Steven Hayter, commented: “Increasing capacity and strengthening connectivity for the long term benefit of the UK rightly sit at the heart of this project, so it is important that we get this right. Stations and connections with the existing rail network should be placed to ensure that once HS2 becomes fully operational, it is part of an integrated railway network, offering maximum benefit to the travelling public.
“Government should also ensure the infrastructure designed and engineered for HS2 is ‘future-proof’ – or adaptable to changes in demand and travel patterns, as well as economic and urban geography. As Britain’s high-speed network evolves, there may be justification for providing further high-speed lines connecting other British city-regions.”
View ICE’s consultation response at www.ice.org.uk/hs2
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