The Government has decided to proceed with the development and delivery of a new national high speed rail network. It does so believing that a High Speed Rail network will provide the capacity that Britain needs to compete and grow.
Steve Hayter, Chair of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) HS2 Expert Panel, has welcomed the Government's announcement on HS2.
ICE supported the concept of the development of a High Speed Rail network in the UK. The proposals in the consultation paper for a ‘Y’ shaped High Speed Railway can form the basis of such a network.
The ICE confirmed its approval for the scheme in July 2011, on the basis that, if completed, the full ‘Y’ shaped route could:
- Provide the foundation for a High Speed Rail network, improving connectivity between principal British cities, and the European rail network;
- Form a central plank of a structured integrated transport policy, based upon high quality public transport provision;
- Free up capacity on the existing congested classic rail network for the development of better passenger and freight services;
- Provide significant economic and regeneration benefits for the destinations served;
- Provide a sustainable alternative to short-haul aviation;
- Provide a significant opportunity to reduce the operational carbon emissions from UK surface transport.
The ICE response also recommended that:
- To ensure the UK wide benefits are realised, Government must commit to the full ‘Y’ shaped route extending to Leeds and Manchester, which will provide the basis for future extension to other key UK cities.
- The Department for Transport must work closely with Local Transport Authorities to ensure local transport solutions are integrated with HS2 plans.
- Government must give careful consideration to the route’s connection points to the existing rail network and the costs involved in resolving potential issues.
- Government must maximise the environmental potential of HS2 by ensuring that in future decades; UK grid electricity is mainly generated by low carbon sources.
- Government should consider if parts of the HSR route could be opened earlier as sections of the line are constructed. This will allow for the track and trains to be tested prior to the full route launch, and for passengers and freight to reap the additional capacity benefits as early as possible.
The full ICE submission can be downloaded via the following www.ice.org.uk/Information-resources/Document-Library/High-Speed-2-Consultation
To formulate our submission, the ICE drew upon the expertise of its membership. We held a series of workshops in the regions affected by the High Speed 2 (HS2) proposals to encourage member engagement, and held a series of evidentiary hearings with expert proponents and critics of the scheme to provide further authoritative basis for our submission. Our consultation exercise was overseen by the ICE’s High Speed Rail Lifed Panel, which was established last year to research High Speed Rail (HSR) and to manage the ICE’s consultation process for this important infrastructure project.
A summary of key points put forward in the ICE submission can be downloaded by clicking here. Members’ thoughts/comments can be communicated via a dedicated email: transport@ice.org.uk
In addition to the ICE submission to Government, the ICE also submitted written evidence to the Transport Committee Inquiry into the Strategic case for High Speed Rail. The conclusions made by the Transport Committee in its final recommendations, mirrored much of what was submitted in the ICE response, which can be downloaded by clicking here.
High Speed 2 (Phase Two: Birmingham to Manchester/Leeds and beyond)
Phase 2 - The 'Y' Network
HS2 Ltd will continue to work on proposals for the line of route from Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester - phase 2 of the project.
They plan to submit recommendations for route and station options for phase 2, including a connection to Heathrow, to ministers by Spring 2012. HS2 anticipate that a period of engagement and consultation will follow. Following consultation, it is expected that a decision will be made by ministers on the preferred route for phase 2 by December 2014.
This timetable will be kept under review with a view to ensuring as swift a process as possible while recognising the need for extensive engagement.
The ICE's Transport Panel will continue to monitor activity in relation to the second phase of HS2, and will again look to comment in detail on the consultation of the remainder of the 'Y' network routeing, and will again seek to engage with its membership on an issue which draws strong emotive argument from both sides of the debate.