Birmingham to Manchester rail line needs realistic and cost-effective plan – Chamber

Business leaders in Greater Birmingham welcomed the announcement of a new Birmingham to Manchester rail line – but said the Government must set out a realistic and cost-effective delivery plan.

No timescale has been provided for the new railway, although the Treasury insists it will not be “a reinstatement of HS2”.

The planned northern section of HS2 was scrapped by Rishi Sunak’s Government in 2023 to save money.

Land obtained for HS2 between the West Midlands and northern cities will be kept while the project is developed.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce welcomed the development but said the Government must learn lessons from the curtailed HS2 project.

Raj Kandola, acting deputy CEO of the GBCC, said: “This development is a key first step towards readdressing the disastrous decision to curtail the progress of HS2 beyond Birmingham.

“Proper connectivity between our great cities is essential if we are to avoid an overreliance on the south of the country to generate prosperity.

“However, the Government will need to learn from previous mistakes and ensure a realistic and cost-effective delivery plan is set out to give businesses the assurance they need to invest.”