HS2 report backs trans-Pennine high-speed link

[Thom91]

HS2 report backs trans-Pennine high-speed link

THE construction of an east-west high-speed line in northern England and acceleration of the second phase of High-Speed 2 (HS2) .are among the proposals put forward by the chairman of HS2 Ltd Sir David Higgins in a report on Britain's high-speed rail strategy, which was unveiled in Manchester on October 27.

The report, entitled Rebalancing Britain: From HS2 Towards a National Transport Strategy, makes four key recommendations for the second phase, which will extend the London – Birmingham high-speed line northwest to Manchester and northeast to Leeds. Firstly, it stresses that the strategic proposal for the second phase, is correct and constructing both branches is the only way to deliver the reductions in journey time and additional capacity that are required.

Secondly, the report suggests that the construction the East Midlands Hub station serving Nottingham and Derby, and Meadowhall serving Sheffield and South Yorkshire are the best options for delivering the benefits of HS2 to these regions. However, a number of changes are proposed to the specification for the Leeds branch of the route. Higgins says further study is needed on the location of East Midlands Hub, and the report suggests locating the station further west closer to the M1 highway and the Midland Main Line, which would provide a direct interchange with the existing line from Derby to Nottingham and Leicester.

Thirdly, it suggests that the North West Hub should be constructed at Crewe because this station is already an important interchange with good links to North Wales, northwest England and the Liverpool area. Higgins recommends further study into the possibility of running trains from HS2 onto the conventional network to serve Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, and Stockport.

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De bouw van een oost-west HSL in het noorden van Engeland en fase twee van het Britse High Speed (HS2) zijn twee van de vele voorgestelde plannen door de Britse voorzitter van de projectbureau High Speed 2.