HS2 have confirmed that the proposed Hybrid Bill deposit for HS2 Phase 2B the section North of Crewe and Birmingham to Leeds is now scheduled for June 2020 and they are proposing to receive Royal Assent in 2023.
HS2 have stated there are a number of reasons for this which also coincides with the recent resignation of the Managing Director of HS2, one of many senior personnel to leave the Government owned company.
The Northern Power House Rail represents significant investment in the East West rail links and HS2 does not stand in isolation as a solution to improving transport links in the North. HS2 have commented that the two programmes greatly enhance on another and these need to be developed in tandem.
The depositing of the Hybrid Bill is to include as many Northern Power House Rail proposals to ensure they work in unison. HS2 are proposing that South Yorkshire will reap the benefit of HS2 via a spur from the mainline which will result in an electrification of 25km of railway near Sheffield and these works are proposed to be part of this.
As you are aware, you as tax payers are funding this scheme and that HS2 are proposing that their designs are as well developed as possible and those specialist Engineers are made full use of in relation to the both projects.
It is still proposed that the scheme known as Phase 2B will open in 2033 as planned and will not have any impact on the Phase 2A schedule.
Tony Rimmer of Rostons stated “This delay in depositing the Hybrid Bill for Phase 2B, the resignation of the Managing Director as well as the project already over budget in relation to the scheme, it does question the support for High Speed 2 however, there has already been significant investment in the scheme with Offices, Employees, Engineers and Designers and when does any scheme of this nature throughout the UK work to budget all timescales”.