The long-awaited Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands was launched today by the Department for Transport. It has key implications for the West Coast Main Line corridor through setting out revisions to the High Speed 2 network and the approach to Northern Powerhouse Rail. The latter will have interfaces with the West Coast Main Line at principal locations such as Liverpool and Manchester.
On High Speed 2, the plan confirms Government commitment to the Phase 2b Western Leg from Crewe to Manchester, but reduces the Phase 2b Eastern Leg new-build line to Birmingham to East Midlands Parkway.
The £54 billion of non-HS2 works includes progressing the Midlands Rail Hub centred on Birmingham, as well as significant schemes such as the Midland Main Line electrification from Market Harborough to Sheffield which do not have a direct impact on the West Coast Main Line.
The full pan can be found at: Integrated Rail Plan: biggest ever public investment in Britain’s rail network will deliver faster, more frequent and more reliable journeys across North and Midlands – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)