HS2 could be BACK as ministers mull new plan to revive northern leg ‘with an open mind’
PLANS to revive the northern leg of HS2 through private investment will be looked at by ministers with an “open mind”, the Transport Secretary has confirmed.
Mark Harper‘s comments come after it was reported over the weekend regional mayors Andy Street and Andy Burnham had drawn up a cross-party plan, proposing to use the private sector to fund the Birmingham-Manchester high-speed line.
Speaking at the ConservativeHome Future of Transport conference, Mr Harper confirmed he Government was “happy” to engage with proposal.
But the Cabinet Minister stressed he was “somewhat sceptical” the private sector could deliver the project at no cost to the taxpayer.
He said: “One of the things that Andy Street said that he wanted to do was work with the private sector, looking at the Birmingham to Manchester piece of what would have been the phase two of HS2 to see if there was an opportunity for the private sector to deliver it without any cost to the taxpayer.
“And he secured the Prime Minister’s agreement that we would listen seriously to what he had to say. He and Andy Burnham have commissioned an expert group to look at that, that work is underway. I’m meeting them to hear from them. We will absolutely listen to them.”
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He added: “I think I’m somewhat sceptical that private sector could do that without any cost to the taxpayer.
“But I’m very happy… we gave Andy that commitment. I am very happy to look at the work he and Andy Burnham commissioned and we will look at it with an open mind but I am somewhat sceptical that can be done.”
The Prime Minister announced the decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2 during the Tory Party conference after rumours had circled for weeks over the future of the project.
Mr Sunak claimed a “false consensus” had built up around it and that he would use the £36bn of savings to fund a number of other transport schemes, described as “Network North”.
Tory mayor of Birmingham Mr Street told the Sunday Express: “The mayors of the two regions are leading this but, to be clear, with Government support.
“By inviting the private sector in to play the maximum possible role, it can be significantly less costly for the public exchequer.”
Under the proposal, train operating companies would reportedly meet the initial costs of a new line but some input from the taxpayer would still be required.
Leading engineering giants Arup and Mace Engineering are leading the discussions.