The mayor of Greater Manchester has warned of slower trains and “Armageddon” in the North if the government terminates the HS2 line at Birmingham.
In 2023, Rishi Sunak controversially announced a scaled-back plan for HS2 from original promises to extend the line between the West Midlands and Manchester and improve regional transport links.
The former Conservative government’s choice to scrap the Manchester link was confirmed by the new Labour government in the July King’s Speech: “We are not reversing the decision to cancel the second phase of HS2.”
Speaking at a fringe event of the Labour Party Conference, mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “The danger is doing nothing. Because if HS2 trains start rolling north through Birmingham and on to the West Coast Main Line we are looking at Armageddon,” report The Telegraph.
Beyond Birmingham, Mr Burnham said stations are “not set up to deal with those trains” and predicted a “worse train service” than existing lines in the North.
