The National Infrastructure Commission’s ‘Rail Needs Assessment’ recommends that regional links between northern cities be taken forward in favour of longer distance routes. It adds that Government should ‘focus rail investment on places where it can have the most impact, rather than spreading investment too thinly’.

This could mean delaying the eastern leg of phase 2b towards Leeds or completing it in phases. Commission chair Sir John Armitt acknowledged that major rail schemes “will be an important component” in levelling up the country’s economic geography, but added “we should ensure public money is carefully spent where it can make the most difference”.

Even if the highest of three budget options of £129Bn for long term rail spending in the Midlands and the north was taken forward, it says, ‘there is not enough money for every rail scheme proposed’.

It suggests instead that money is directed towards prioritising regional links, such as from Manchester to Liverpool and Leeds, or Birmingham to Nottingham and Derby. Such regional links, the report says, have ‘the potential to deliver the highest benefits for cities in the Midlands and the north’.

In response, Midlands Connect director Maria Machancoses said: “Sacrificing parts of the high speed network now would short change millions of people across the Midlands and undermine our efforts to deliver a transport network fit for the 21st Century.”

She said that High Speed 2 must be delivered in its entirety, including its eastern leg from Birmingham to Leeds, alongside Midlands Engine Rail. “To stall, scale down or delay now will cause irreparable economic damage to communities across the region – especially the East Midlands, which has suffered from a chronic underinvestment in infrastructure for decades.” She called on Government to reject calls to alter High Speed 2’s route or remit.

The Commission's report also proposes a re-examination of the location of an East Midlands hub station at Toton, suggesting that the existing East Midlands Parkway station could be improved instead.

Former chair of the Transport Select Committee and the MP for Nottingham South, Lilian Greenwood described the report as “an insult to the people of the East Midlands”. She added: “Downgrading the eastern leg of HS2, as suggested in this report, is completely unacceptable and will condemn a generation, not only to a second class railway, but to a second class future – one blighted by economic inequality and a lack of social mobility.”

She called on Government to build the whole of the eastern leg, to keep the high speed connections between the East and West Midlands and from Birmingham and Toton to the north. “To bypass Toton would undermine years of work and ambitious plans to regenerate a site larger than London’s Olympic Park,” she added.

Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake said: “Delaying, downgrading or cancelling the eastern leg of HS2 will do nothing to accelerate the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail, which will rely on HS2 infrastructure.” West Yorkshire Combined Authority chair Susan Hinchcliffe added: “Continued uncertainty around this project will blight businesses and communities.”

The Department for Transport is understood to be considering the Commission's recommendations and is expected to publish its Integrated Rail Plan early next year.

On Monday during Transport for the North’s annual conference, held online, Douglas Oakervee who chaired a review into High Speed 2 published earlier this year was asked for his thoughts on how crucial an eastern leg would be.

“Without the eastern leg, the Northern Powerhouse Railway suffers greatly,” he replied. There may be some adjustments needed, he noted, “but it is absolutely crucial that it is built”.

Northern Powerhouse Rail director Tim Wood added: “We expect HS2 to be built in full.” While many people talk about the importance for those in the north to have a better connection with London, “I would look at it the other way”, he said. “It is London’s connection to the north of England: bring those businesses up here and enable them to grow and develop.”

(Image: Capita)