By Peter Omopo
The UK government is set to announce plans to build a new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester, the BBC has learned, marking a potential revival of ambitions shelved under earlier high-speed rail proposals.
The proposed link was originally part of the HS2 high-speed rail project but was scrapped by the previous government led by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Under the new plans, the Birmingham–Manchester route would be developed after the completion of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), a major infrastructure scheme aimed at improving connectivity across the North of England. As a result, the project may not be delivered for several decades.
The government is expected on Wednesday to formally confirm proposals for new and upgraded rail links under the NPR programme, which seeks to cut journey times between northern cities and towns and stimulate economic growth outside London.
Plans to bring high-speed rail to the North were first proposed in 2014 by former Conservative chancellor George Osborne. A new line between Liverpool and Manchester has since been regarded as the central element of the Northern Powerhouse Rail vision.
However, progress on NPR has been repeatedly delayed, with announcements postponed several times last year amid concerns over rising costs. Sources say the government has carried out an extended review of the scheme to avoid the problems that have plagued HS2.
HS2, which is now limited to a shortened route between Birmingham and London, is reported to be tens of billions of pounds over budget and around a decade behind schedule. Estimates suggest the remaining line could cost up to £81 billion, rising to at least £100 billion when inflation is factored in, despite delivering only 135 miles of track.
HS2 Ltd, the company responsible for the project, has acknowledged failures in cost control and conceded that delivery has fallen far short of early expectations.
The proposed Birmingham–Manchester rail link signals a renewed, though cautious, attempt by the government to expand rail capacity and improve inter-city connections, following years of controversy surrounding large-scale rail infrastructure projects.
