High speed rail link to northern England to arrive six years earlier: Osborne

Britain's biggest ever rail project, HS2, is to arrive in the north of England six years earlier than originally planned, the government revealed Monday.

The first phase of the high-speed rail link between London and Britain's second largest city, Birmingham, is scheduled to open in 2026, with phase 2 to the north opening in 2033.

Chancellor George Osborne has announced the link to the Crewe, one of the country's busiest railway hubs and the main gateway to northern England, will now be operational from 2027. From Crewe the HS2 line will be extended to Manchester and Leeds.

Osborne said improving transport links with northern England is a key part of the government's transport policy.

The revised timetable means a part of the second phase of the project is due to open only a year after the first phase from London to Birmingham becomes operational.

Osborne commented: "Bringing forward this part of the HS2 route by six years is a massive step in the right direction for the Northern Powerhouse where high-speed rail will play a big role in connecting up the entire region with the rest of the country."

His officials at the Treasury said journey times between Crewe and London would be cut by 45 minutes once the new route opens. HS2 trains will reach speed of 362 km/h, with the potential to travel at 400 km/h.

In a statement also issued today Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "This is a big step forward for HS2 and the creation of a Northern Powerhouse. This gives funding certainty to HS2. It also gives more certainty to the towns and cities that would be served by HS2 that they can plan for its arrival, and to the private sector that there will be future investment opportunities.

"HS2 will not be a separate, standalone railway. It will be the new backbone of our national rail network, with HS2 services running from London and Birmingham to cities in the north of England including Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and on to Scotland. It will not only deliver significant journey time savings, but also much needed additional capacity and increased connectivity."

The existing West Coast line which links Scotland and north west England to London is already overcrowded and nearing capacity.

Earlier this fall Chancellor Osborne urged Chinese investors to bid for contracts to build HS2.

Speaking in China in September he urged Chinese firms to bid for seven contracts worth around 18 billion U.S. dollars, covering the HS2 link between London and Birmingham. Extensions of HS2 to the north, along infrastructure and improved transport links to northern cities, would cost a further 36 billion U.S. dollars, Osborne told Chinese investors. Endit