As a reader of this blog and interested observer of HS2, you
will of course know that Phase 2 is the Y-shaped part of the
project that will link the West Midlands to Manchester and Leeds,
infinity and beyond - or rather, the trains will join the normal
speed network at Manchester and Leeds so passengers can continue,
on the same trains albeit at a more leisurely pace, all the way to
Glasgow and Edinburgh.
While Phase 1 addresses overcrowding on the West Coast Mainline,
Phase 2 address the same issue on the East Coast and Midlands
Mainlines by providing an alternative and faster route from London
to destinations in the north of England and Scotland.
On 17 July 2013 the DfT launched a consultation on the proposed
detailed route for Phase 2, which will run until 31 January
2014. A series of public information events will accompany
the consultation from mid-October.
The consultation seeks views on:
- the route and its sustainability impacts
- whether there should be additional stations on either fork of the Y
- how the capacity on the existing railways network released by HS2 can be used
- the opportunities to introduce other utilities (e.g. water and electricity apparatus) along the line of the route to maximise the benefits of the investment
That last question in particular looks interesting - you can see why the Department would seek ideas of that nature, given the problems they are having with borderline cost-benefit analyses and ever increasing cost estimates.
Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport, released a
statement emphasising the goernment's case for HS2 in general,
and Phase 2 in particular. Phase 2, we are told, 'will
turn HS2 into a truly national asset that we can be proud
of'.
HS2 have set up a consultation page on their website, which
contains lots of further information on the route and how to
respond to the consultation.
Links:
Patrick McLoughlin's Statement
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