Alternative northern rail plan tabled to link HS2 and NPR via underground stations
1/2 Proposed Leeds Station (Credit WW+P/Expedition)
2/2 Proposed Leeds Station from above (Credit WW+P/Expedition)
An alternative Northern rail proposal has been tabled which would link High Speed 2 (HS2) and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and include underground stations in major cities such as Leeds and Manchester.
The Trans-Britain Railway plan – put forward by Expedition Engineering and architects Weston Williamson & Partners (WW&P) – emphasises the opportunity to combine the northern section of HS2 (phase 2) and NPR to deliver “real value”.
The scheme proposes a single integrated railway north of Crewe that achieves the objectives of both projects in a more efficient and affordable manner .
These include clear plans to decarbonise the economy, factoring in electric vehicle charging infrastructure; a long-term, strategic approach to transport
Extra land safeguarded at HS2’s Leeds station
Additional land has been safeguarded next to Leeds station ahead of construction of High Speed 2 (HS2) and Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Transport minister Andrew Stephenson announced that the extra land was needed to “reflect the latest design of the HS2 railway”.
The land is to the east of Leeds station at the point where HS2 would integrate with Northern Powerhouse Rail.
The safeguarding comes amid fears that the eastern leg of HS2 – from the West Midlands to Leeds – could be axed or delayed.
The NIC assessment will inform the Integrated Rail Plan due out “early this year”.
An artist s impression of how Bradford Interchange could look in the future - it is hoped the station could link with the Northern Powerhouse Rail line. LOCAL politicians have expressed anger after a report suggested the North could miss out on much needed rail infrastructure because London schemes were going over budget. Last month the National Infrastructure Commission released its Rail Needs Assessment, a report that suggested long planned, much needed rail schemes in the North may not go ahead as hoped. Two big projects are the Leeds leg of HS2, which would create a High Speed Rail link between the region and London, and Northern Powerhouse Rail, a High Speed line that would link the East Coast and West Coast, including a stop in Bradford.