TRIM What would happen if HS2 isn’t built? Questions, questions The West Coast Main Line (WCML) which Won’t investment in High Speed 2 links the North West with London will get divert much-needed investment from clogged up. Network Rail has made clear our local services? that by 2024, despite measures to increase Today’s government has pledged that they capacity – for instance, by running longer won’t allow that to happen. And with the lines trains – the route will be effectively full; between Liverpool, Manchester, Preston and many of the busiest long distance services will Blackpool being electri ed, they can fairly What will be carrying passengers who will have to stand, point to recent investment commitments because all of the seats will be taken. The risk producing results on the ground. is that what can be enjoyed today will not be High Speed 2 inde nitely available for future generations. Isn’t high-speed rail just for wealthy business travellers? do for the North West? Services from the North West will be No. The business case for HS2 assumes competing for ever-scarcer timetable slots that there are no premium fares charged on the rail network against outer London for using high-speed rail services. Research commuter services which are expected to suggests that on these assumptions, the increase. The North West will lose out as average fare to London on high-speed rail London commuter services expand. This might be (in today’s prices) around £40. would be disastrous for the region’s economic growth prospects. Jobs depend on connectivity, Will HS2 services only serve central London? for passengers and to the national ports for No. Government has decided that there freight. The extra capacity HS2 provides is should be a connection built between High essential if the North West’s connectivity is to Speed 2 and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link be maintained and improved. (now known as High Speed 1) from the outset in 2026. This means that direct straight- How can I express my support for HS2? through-to Europe services could operate between the cities of the North West and Government is consulting. It is perhaps to be Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. expected that people living near the line of route will object to HS2. The objectors hope In the subsequent stages when high-speed that people and businesses that will bene t infrastructure is extended to Manchester, from HS2 stay silent. Without your support, there will also be a direct high-speed link HS2 may yet be defeated. So here’s what you to Heathrow Airport for services from the need to do: North West. This will allow both Heathrow and Manchester Airports to concentrate » Respond to the Department for Transport on medium/long haul ights, saving consultation (highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk, carbon and getting best economic value or phone for a copy of the consultation from our national airports. There is also documents on 0300 321 1010) the possibility that the extension of HS2 northwards would provide for a station at » Write to your MP, asking him or her to Manchester Airport too. strongly support High Speed 2 For answers to many more questions, » Write a letter to your local (or national) go to www.greengauge21.net newspaper, saying why HS2 deserves to proceed in the wider national interest » Sign up to the Campaign for High Speed Rail (www.campaignforhsr.com) Produced by Greengauge 21 on behalf of the North West Business Leadership Team and the North West Rail Campaign TRIM TRIM The North West stands to be a big winner to Carlisle and Glasgow To London from... Today’s timings Journey time with HS2 from the High Speed 2 rail project, getting Manchester 2h07 1h40 nearly a quarter of the economic bene ts. Liverpool 2h08 1h50 LANCASTER The rst stage of the national high-speed Source: HS2 Ltd HSR London to the West Midlands and beyond p147 rail network, the line between London and and 2010–11 national rail timetable the West Midlands (HS2), is planned to open PRESTON in 2026. With onward running over existing WIGAN lines, this brings high-speed services to the WARRINGTON It’s not just the biggest cities that gain. North West and bene ts the North West’s LIVERPOOL MANCHESTER With complementary investment in the STOCKPORT economy to the tune of £5bn. RUNCORN Northern Hub – work on the new line across WILMSLOW Manchester is now scheduled to be carried But the boost to the region’s economy begins CREWE WCML out by the end of 2016 – there will be better even earlier. Experience across Europe onward connections to places such as Bolton shows that once high-speed plans become and Rochdale. With the southern section rm, businesses know they can plan on the of the West Coast Main Line freed up by dramatically greater accessibility that high- the transfer of the fastest services to HS2, speed rail brings, and tailor their investment new direct London services from Blackpool decisions accordingly. So the stimulus to become possible too. regeneration will start before 2020. As HSR is extended northwards in So what are the Day 1 high speed First phase of HS2 subsequent stages, these journey times will services for the North West? – Day 1, 2026 get faster still. But the important point is HS2 this: the North West gets new high-speed HS2 Ltd’s plans show high-speed rail services from Day 1, 2026. services between London and the North West are comprehensive and frequent: LONDON HS1 High Speed service to London PARIS (trains per hour each way) BRUSSELS Glasgow Central AMSTERDAM Crewe 1 COLOGNE MARSEILLES Liverpool 2 BARCELONA MILAN Manchester 3 GENEVA … Preston 1 (2 in peak period) Preston Runcorn 1 Liverpool Lime Street Wigan Manchester Piccadilly Stockport 3 Runcorn Warrington 2 (3 in peak period) Crewe Warrington Stockport Wigan 1 (2 in peak period) Stafford Wilmslow Wilmslow 1 Birmingham Fazeley Street Modelled HS2 service pattern Birmingham Interchange Running on HS2 Additional peak hour service Running on existing line HS2 station Existing station Old Oak Common London Euston TRIM.