Options for phase two of the high speed rail network A report to Government by HS2 Ltd 29 March 2012 © Copyright High Speed Two (HS2) Limited, March 2012 While High Speed Two Limited (HS2 Ltd) has made every effort to ensure the information in this document is accurate, HS2 Ltd does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information contained in this document and it cannot accept liability for any loss or damages of any kind resulting from reliance on the information or guidance this document contains. High Speed Two (HS2) Limited Registered in England. Registration number 06791686. Registered office Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU [email protected] www.hs2.org.uk Preface to March 2012 reports This report was submitted to Government by HS2 Ltd at the end of March 2012 and is part of a suite of documents produced to provide preliminary advice to Government on potential options for phase two of the high speed rail network. For details of the initial preferred scheme selected by Government, please see the Command Paper1. The initial preferred scheme will form the basis of further engagement. A preferred scheme will be published in 2013 that will form the basis of full public consultation. Anyone reading the March 2012 reports should be aware of the following: • The reports describe the development of options. The base proposition referred to is not a recommended or preferred scheme. • The reports describe route and station options serving Heathrow T5. The options do not reflect an initial preferred scheme. The Government has announced its intention to suspend work on high speed rail options to Heathrow until the Airports Commission has reported. • Where the Ordnance Survey Licence Number is shown on maps it should read 100049190. 1 High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain’s Future Phase Two: The route to Leeds, Manchester and beyond Options for phase two of the high speed rail network HS2 Ltd Foreword In January 2012 the Government announced its decision to embark on the most significant transport project since the building of the motorways, the development and delivery of a new national high speed rail network. The announcement marked a significant point for HS2 Ltd coming three years after we were established to advise the Government about the case for high speed rail and provide proposals for the phase one development of a new high speed rail line between London and the West Midlands. This report is the first step in the development of phase two of the high speed rail network. In the proposals for the Y network we set out options for the onward legs from the West Midlands to Manchester and Leeds with stations in South Yorkshire and East Midlands and a direct high speed line serving a station at Heathrow. We also describe options for serving cities beyond the network, direct trains serving cities such as Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Since being given our remit by Government for phase two, we have developed and refined the options described in this report adopting the same approach as we did for phase one. We have made use of expert analysis in engineering, sustainability and analytical fields and benefited from the involvement, in confidence, of our regional stakeholders. Their views have contributed significantly throughout the process and we are grateful for their input. The successful delivery of phase two, opening in 2032/33, will create a truly national high speed rail network. It will bring cities and regions of the north and south closer together as never before. It offers the opportunity to change the way people travel making high speed rail the mode of choice for long distance journeys. It is a once in a lifetime transport project that has the potential to deliver real economic growth across the country. The benefits must be balanced with the potential costs, and the financial and sustainability impacts have been crucial in the choices made and the options identified. This report begins the development of phase two of the high speed rail network. It provides the Government with the evidence and advice it needs to engage and take decisions on its preferred scheme. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government on the future development of high speed rail. Sir Brian Briscoe Chairman High Speed Two (HS2) Limited March 2012 - i - Options for phase two of the high speed rail network HS2 Ltd Contents Executive summary 1 Chapter 1 The context for high speed rail 10 1.1 Rationale and specific remit 10 1.2 HS2 Ltd’s remit and scope 12 1.3 The status of HS2 Ltd 13 1.4 The Government’s policy goals 15 Chapter 2 Our approach 17 2.1 Establishing the case – our approach 17 2.2 Design and appraisal – specification and assumptions 20 2.3 Our assumptions 21 Chapter 3 Methodology 25 3.1 Tackling our remit 25 3.2 Option generation and sifting 25 Chapter 4 West Midlands to Manchester 29 4.1 Introduction 29 4.2 Geographic overview 31 4.3 Routes between Lichfield, the Manchester outskirts and Golborne 34 4.4 Intermediate station options on the route to Manchester 70 4.5 Routes to Preston and interchange option 75 4.6 Approaches into Manchester city centre 89 4.7 Manchester city centre stations 106 4.8 Interchange station options in the Manchester area 126 4.9 Routes and stations: Key decisions for Government 144 Chapter 5 West Midlands to Leeds 146 5.1 Introduction 146 5.2 Geographic overview 148 5.3 Routes between Water Orton and East Midlands 153 5.4 East Midlands stations 176 5.5 Routes between East Midlands and South Yorkshire 196 5.6 South Yorkshire stations 225 5.7 Routes between South Yorkshire and Leeds 245 5.8 Leeds city centre station 263 5.9 Connecting to the ECML and interchange station options 284 5.10 Routes and stations: Key decisions for Government 296 Chapter 6 Heathrow 298 6.1 Introduction 298 6.2 Demand for international high speed rail services from Heathrow 311 Chapter 7 Maintenance and stabling infrastructure 314 7.1 Introduction 314 7.2 Maintenance depots - approach 314 7.3 Proposed depot options and alternatives 321 - ii - Options for phase two of the high speed rail network HS2 Ltd Chapter 8 Base proposition 332 8.1 Introduction 332 8.2 Base proposition 333 References 343 List of supporting documents 345 List of acronyms 346 Glossary of terms 347 Maps and images HS2 Ltd recommends that readers print high quality colour versions of this report to view the maps and images. On the maps and images contained within, where high speed route options appear to overlap with existing rail lines, this represents the high speed option running alongside the existing railway, not on top or in place of it. - iii - Options for phase two of the high speed rail network HS2 Ltd List of figures Figure 1.1 How HS2 proposals for phase one have developed 10 Figure 2.1 HS2 Ltd decision making process 17 Figure 3.1 The relationship between the sifting process and the development of options 25 Figure 4.1 Geographic overview of the Manchester leg corridor 31 Figure 4.2 Routes between Lichfield, the Manchester outskirts and Golborne long listing stage 36 Figure 4.3 Routes between Lichfield, the Manchester outskirts and Golborne short listing stage 39 Figure 4.4 Routes between Lichfield, the Manchester outskirts and Golborne selecting options for refinement stage 42 Figure 4.5 Routes between Lichfield, the Manchester outskirts and Golborne final options 46 Figure 4.6 Lichfield to Newcastle-under-Lyme northern route option with variant 47 Figure 4.7 Lichfield to Newcastle-under-Lyme southern option route 51 Figure 4.8 Newcastle-under-Lyme to Crewe western route 53 Figure 4.9 Liverpool, Crewe and other intermediate markets – demand for long distance travel 55 Figure 4.10 Newcastle-under-Lyme to Sandbach M6 route 58 Figure 4.11 Crewe to Golborne western route 60 Figure 4.12 Sandbach to Golborne M6 route 64 Figure 4.13 Sandbach to Golborne via Airport route 66 Figure 4.14 Demand for long distance travel in south Cheshire and north Staffordshire 71 Figure 4.15 Manchester leg intermediate station options 72 Figure 4.16 M6 Junction 16 intermediate station 73 Figure 4.17 Routes to Preston long listing stage 76 Figure 4.18 Routes to Preston short listing stage 77 Figure 4.19 Routes to Preston selecting options for refinement stage 79 Figure 4.20 Route from Golborne to Preston 81 Figure 4.21 Preston interchange station options 85 Figure 4.22 Preston M55 interchange option 86 Figure 4.23 Approaches to Manchester long listing stage 90 Figure 4.24 Approaches to Manchester short listing stage 91 Figure 4.25 Approaches to Manchester selecting options for refinement stage 92 Figure 4.26 Approaches to Manchester final approach route options 93 Figure 4.27 Airport and south Manchester tunnel route to Manchester 94 Figure 4.28 Mersey and tunnel approach to Manchester 97 Figure 4.29 M62 approach route to serve a station at Salford 100 Figure 4.30 Chat Moss corridor approach to Salford 102 Figure 4.31 Manchester and Metrolink area – demand for long distance travel 106 Figure 4.32 Manchester city centre station area options 109 - iv - Options for phase two of the high speed rail network HS2 Ltd Figure 4.33 Manchester city centre station long list to final options 112 Figure 4.34 Selecting the final options for Manchester city centre station 113 Figure 4.35 Proposed Manchester Piccadilly station layout 115 Figure 4.36 Manchester Piccadilly indicative station illustration 116 Figure 4.37 Proposed Salford Central Middlewood station layout 118 Figure 4.38 Salford Central Middlewood indicative