Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has used his first speech since being reappointed to claim 'the argument has been won' on HS2, and outline further developments in realising the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ plan.
On HS2, a defiant Mr McLoughlin claimed ‘the general election result was a massive vote of confidence in favour of HS2... the argument has been won’.
He also lent more substance to the Government’s initial HS3 plans for a third high speed rail line running across the north from Liverpool in the west to Hull in the east.
‘We are moving forward with plans for new high-speed rail links, running right across the north. It will slash journey times, provide a substantial boost to capacity and help bind the north together as a single, powerful economic force. We believe in the power of transport to change things,’ he said.
Mr McLoughlin revealed that by the autumn, Transport for the North (TfN) - the body of northern transport authorities established by the government to help deliver a regional strategy - would have a new independent chair.
The group, which has outlined proposals for roughly £15bn of transport investment, will lobby to help improve train and bus services, roll out smart ticketing and reduce road congestion and speeding up links to ports and airports.
Mr McLoughlin also confirmed the full HS2 Y-network from London to Birmingham in phase one then on to Manchester and Leeds in phase two will go ahead, and construction is on track to start in 2017.
The HS2 Hybrid Bill committee will restart parliamentary scrutiny of the bill for phase one between London and Birmingham shortly, while ministers will announce developments on phase two later this year.
The secretary also confirmed that Whitehall would look into preparing legislation to bring HS2 to Crewe faster than planned, as well as considering ways to introduce faster regional services and the case for speeding up construction of the Sheffield to Leeds section.
