HS2 Plus – Sir David Higgins Report; March 2014 – A Summary
- HS2 needs to happen, and faster
- Capacity, not speed,is the main need
- 43-mile Birmingham-Crewe extension would deliver benefits to North sooner
- Integration into existing network and regional (not local or national) approach needed
- Stresses “coherent transport plan for the North” – hence ‘HS2 Plus’
1. Extension to Crewe should happen in Phase One
First phase of HS2 should include another 43 miles of track from Birmingham to Crewe. This would be brought forward from Phase Two and built by 2027 (six years early), providing better connections to Stoke, Shrewsbury and Chester. Crewe extension would be ‘relatively straightforward to build at relatively low cost’. Although money isn’t included in the Phase One budget, it has already been set aside for Phase Two.
2. Euston should be rebuilt on a grander scale
Current station is a ‘mess’, and government should ‘aspire to do Euston properly’ when it is rebuilt as part of HS2. The report outlines a ‘level deck design’ similar to St Pancras, which would ‘enable access from one side of the station to the other, better connecting the station to the local area and community’. This would ‘maximise the aesthetic and jobs impact of the rebuilt station.’
3. HS2 shouldn’t necessarily be linked to HS1
For £700 million, plans to connect HS2 to HS1 (London-Dover-Europe) are not best use of HS2’s capacity. Changing stations from Euston to Kings Cross is like ‘transferring from one terminal to another at Heathrow’. Government should reconsider whether this is best use of money.
4. Faster progress on Hybrid Bill crucial
Legislation introduced last year has made little progress. “Uncertainty over the legislative timetable” is main reason for not being able to reduce costs further. “Time is uncertainty; uncertainty leads into cost and eventually money.”
“Infrastructure is critical to this nation. We can’t have a logjam of approval process. I understand the reason for debate and consultation but time is money’
5. Costs are stable — for now
Whether HS2 continues to have cross-party support will be entirely dependent on costs. Labour continues to demand reassurances on costs and potential reduction. First stage of HS2 to cost £21.4 billion, plus £3 billion for trains/contingency.
Higgins avoids lowering budgets further due to lack of parliamentary progress and government indecision. “The more certainty there is about timescale, the lower costs will be.” Labour’s Mary Creagh said Labour will “vote to support the Hybrid Bill at Second Reading when Government finally brings it to Parliament.” This appears to be pretty unequivocal support — at least, for now.