FO EV RT ER NI Y GH T
ISSUE 318 26 JULY 2024
NEWS, VIEWS AND ANALYSIS FOR A SECTOR ON THE MOVE
NAO adds to pressure to find HS2 solution
National Audit Office report warns that decision to axe northern leg of high speed line will result in trains having fewer seats than existing services Pressure is building on the government to revive plans to extend HS2 north of Birmingham after the National Audit Office warned that the last govertnment’s decision to scrap the northern leg of the project could lead to lower capacity, and potentially higher prices for trains between London and Manchester. “Department for Transport plans for HS2 trains to run from the phase 1 track onto the West Coast Main Line in place of conventional trains, but the trains will have fewer seats than existing services unless changes are made to existing infrastructure and stations to accommodate longer trains,” said the NAO in a report. Unlike existing Pendolino
HOP ABOARD THE ‘99 BUS’ Cadbury Flake and First Bus have launched the ‘99 Bus’, a free, pre-bookable service, whisking families away to the seaside, after research from Cadbury found that most parents find it too difficult and stressful to organise day trips to the coast. The partners have created two new bus routes that will run across the weekends of August 10/11 and 17/18. West Yorkshire families can travel to Bridlington while Londoners can visit Southend-on-Sea.
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rolling stock, HS2 trains will be unable to tilt to take corners on the WCML at a higher speed. They also carry fewer passengers. It’s a point that many in the rail industry have been making since then prime minister Rishi Sunak announced his decision scrap the northern leg last October. Responding to the NAO report, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham called for
“This is an urgent problem that needs a coherent solution” Andy Burnham
the DfT to explore construction of an alternative new rail line, potentially using land already purchased for the HS2 project. He said: “By the Department for Transport’s assessment, the West Coast Main Line will be at capacity by the mid-2030s. Not doing anything to address this would be a brake on growth.” He added: “The idea that we are going to make rail services worse by the middle of the century is a complete non-starter - a different plan is needed. This is an urgent problem that needs a coherent solution. No-one is talking about going back to HS2, but there has to be additional capacity between the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.”
NEWS
Haigh confirms plans for major bus reforms
05
Better Buses Bill offers new powers
NET ZERO
Action needed on transport emissions
14
Committee makes recommendations
COMMENT
Ministers need new sources of funding
18
Norman Baker urges creative thinking
COMMENT
We are letting our young talent down
20
Alex Warner says new approach is needed
SUMMER BREAK Passenger Transport is taking its annual summer break. There will be no edition on August 9. The next edition of the magazine will come out on August 23.
24/07/2024 16:28