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High Speed 2 Phase Two

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Main article: High Speed 2

High Speed 2 - Phase Two
The Phase Two route, highlighted in red, consists of two lines to Manchester and Leeds
Overview
StatusCancelled
LocaleMidlands, North West, Yorkshire
Termini
StationsManchester spur:
Crewe
Manchester Airport High Speed
Manchester Piccadilly
Leeds spur:
Toton Sidings
Sheffield Meadowhall
Leeds New Lane
Service
TypeHigh-speed railway
SystemNational Rail
Depot(s)Golborne
Rolling stockTo be decided
History
Opened2032–2033 (planned)
Technical
Number of tracksDouble track throughout
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Loading gaugeGC
Electrification25 kV AC overhead
Operating speedUp to 250 mph (400 km/h)[1]

High Speed 2 is a new high-speed railway line in England. It was originally planned to connect London with the city centres of Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds directly on new high speed track. East Midlands Airport was also to have been served.

Phase 2 was planned for completion in 2032–2033, however it was finally cancelled on 4 October 2023.[2]

Phase two was split into two sub-phases:

  • Phase 2a: the section from Birmingham to Crewe, which was to be built simultaneously with phase 1, effectively merging with phase 1
  • Phase 2b: the eastern leg of phase 2 which was scrapped in 2021.[3]

The concept of HS2 was that all major cities covered would have a city centre HS2 station. Liverpool, along with London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, was envisaged to have a city centre HS2 station. The scheme was cut down to only three provincial city centres served directly by HS2, two being on phase 2. The preliminary route for Phase Two was announced on 28 January 2013.[4] It was envisaged construction on Phase Two will start in 2022 with completion by 2032.

Birmingham to Manchester (phases 2a & 2b)

[edit]

Birmingham to Crewe (phase 2a)

[edit]

Birmingham to Crewe was phase 2a, which was proposed to be built before phase 2b, simultaneously with phase 1. HS2 was to pass through Staffordshire and Cheshire, in a tunnel under Crewe station but not stopping at Crewe railway station.[5] However, the HS2 line was to be linked to the West Coast Main Line via a grade-separated junction just south of Crewe, enabling "classic compatible" trains exiting the high-speed line to call at the existing Crewe station.[6][7]

High-speed Crewe hub (phase 2a)

[edit]

HS2 was planned to pass through Staffordshire and Cheshire. The line would have been tunnelled under the Crewe junction, bypassing the existing Crewe station.[8] The HS2 line would have been linked to the West Coast Main Line via a grade-separated junction just south of Crewe, enabling "conventional compatible" trains exiting the high-speed line to call at Crewe station.[9][10] In 2014, the chairman of HS2 advocated a dedicated hub station in Crewe.[11] In November 2015, it was announced that the Crewe hub completion would be brought forward to 2027.[12] In November 2017, the government and Network Rail supported a proposal to build the hub station on the existing station site, with a junction onto the West Coast Main Line north of the station. This would have enabled through-trains to bypass the station via a tunnel under the station, progressing directly onto the West Coast Main Line.[13]

In 2014 David Higgins, who was then chairman of High Speed Two (HS2) Limited, proposed an addition to phase two: a high-speed hub at Crewe to take advantage of, and have access to, the six classic lines radiating from the existing Crewe junction. Many more regions and cities would have overall superior journey times being accessed with a combination of HS2 and classic lines. The hub was a part of phase two, but Higgins proposed the hub and line from Birmingham to Crewe (phase 2a) should be constructed simultaneously with phase one.

Crewe is a major rail junction with six radiating classic lines from the junction to Scotland/Liverpool, Birmingham/London, Chester, Shrewsbury, Stoke and Manchester. The high-speed hub was to be sited to the south of the current Crewe station. The intention was for high-speed trains to run off the northbound HS2 line into the high-speed hub and out onto a number of classic lines without passing through the bottleneck of the existing Crewe station, keeping line speeds as fast as possible. A new high-speed rail station was proposed as a part of the hub.[14][15][16]

On 17 July 2017, this was approved by the government.[17]

Manchester Airport (phase 2b)

[edit]
Main article: Manchester Airport High Speed station

A station is planned to serve Manchester Airport on the southern boundary of Manchester. It will be located next to Junction 5 of the M56 motorway on the northern side of the airport and approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north-west of Manchester Airport railway station.[5][18] The two stations are not connected. An airport station was recommended by local authorities during the consultation stage.[19][20] The government agreed in January 2013 for an airport station but agreed only on the basis that private investment was involved, such as funding from the Manchester Airports Group to build the station. The average journey from London Euston to Manchester Airport would be 59 minutes.

The proposed Manchester Airport High Speed station[21]

Manchester Airport High Speed station was a planned HS2 through-station serving Manchester Airport. It was recommended in 2013 by local authorities, during the consultation stage. Construction was dependent on part-funding by investment from the majority publicly owned Manchester Airports Group.[22][23]

The proposed site was located on the northwestern side of the airport, to the west of the M56 motorway, at junction 5, and approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km) northwest of the existing Manchester Airport railway station. A sub-surface station was planned, approximately 8.5 metres (27 ft 11 in) below ground level, consisting of two central 415-metre (1,362 ft) platforms, a pair of through-tracks for trains to pass through the station without stopping, a street-level passenger concourse, and a main entrance on the eastern side, facing the airport.[24]

Proposals did not detail passenger interchange methods; various options were being considered to integrate the new station with existing transport networks, including extending the Manchester Metrolink airport tram line to connect the HS2 station with the existing airport railway station.[25][26][27][28]

If the station had been built, it is estimated that the average journey time from London Euston to Manchester Airport would have been 59 minutes.[29]

Manchester city centre (phase 2b)

[edit]

A new Manchester Piccadilly High Speed station was planned to be built on a viaduct parallel to the north side of the existing station.[30] The station was to have six platforms on three islands for both terminating High Speed 2 trains from London and Birmingham as well as Northern Powerhouse Rail trains to Liverpool, Warrington, Huddersfield, Leeds, and beyond. It was proposed to relocate the present Piccadilly Metrolink stop is from ground-level, below the existing station platforms, to a new larger four-platform stop located underground below the high-speed station. Provision for a second ground-level Metrolink stop at the eastern end of the high-speed station—to service future Metrolink extensions—to be called Piccadilly Central, also formed part of the plans.

Map of the proposed extension of Manchester Piccadilly station

The route was to continue from the airport into Manchester city centre via a 7.5-mile (12.1 km) bored tunnel under the dense urban districts of south Manchester before surfacing at Ardwick.[31][32][33] The tunnel was to be the longest rail tunnel to be built in the United Kingdom, surpassing the 6.2-mile (10.0 km) High Speed 1 tunnel completed in 2004.[34] It was anticipated that the stretch from Rostherne in Cheshire to Ardwick would take up to 7 years to construct.[35]

The 7.6 mile twin-bore tunnel would have been at an average depth of 33 metres and trains will travel at 142 miles per hour (229 km/h) through the tunnel. The diameter size of the tunnel is dependent on the train speed and length of the tunnel.[36] It was envisaged both tunnels would be, as an 'absolute minimum', at least 7.25 metres in diameter to accommodate the high speed trains.[37]

Up to fifteen sites were put forward including Sportcity, Pomona Island, expanding Deansgate railway station and re-configuring the disused grade-II listed Manchester Central terminal station building back into a station.[38] Three final sites made the long list: Manchester Piccadilly station, Salford Central station and a newly built station at Salford Middlewood Locks.[39] Three approaches were considered, one via the M62, one via the River Mersey and the other through south Manchester. Both Manchester and Salford City Council recommended routing High Speed 2 to Manchester Piccadilly to maximise economic potential and connectivity rather than building a new station at a greater cost and which could be isolated from existing transport links.[40]

HS2 trains would have terminated at an upgraded Manchester Piccadilly station.[5] At least four new 400-metre-long (1,300 ft) platforms would have been built to accommodate the new high-speed trains in addition to the two platforms which were planned as part of the Northern Hub proposal.[20] It was envisaged Platform 1 under the existing listed train shed would have also been converted to a fifth HS2 platform to reduce cost. However at 242 metres long, it is the shortest platform at the station and fell short of the 400 metre platform required to accommodate High Speed trains.[41] The HS2 concourse would have been connected to the existing concourse at Piccadilly. HS2 would have reduce the average journey time from central Manchester to central London from 2 hours 8 minutes to 1 hour 8 minutes.

Current status

[edit]

On 4 October 2023, all of HS2 Phase 2 was axed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.[2] There is currently a pending review for its revival to Manchester.

Birmingham to Leeds (phase 2b)

[edit]

A new station in the East Midlands was proposed, which may have been a parkway station,[note 1] to serve Nottingham, Derby and Leicester.[42] The Derbyshire and Nottingham Chamber supported high-speed rail going to the East Midlands but was concerned that a parkway station instead of centrally located city stations would result in no overall net benefit in journey times to existing services.[42] East Midlands Parkway railway station was recently constructed on the Midland Main Line south of Derby and Nottingham. HS2 would have continued north to a station at Sheffield railway station in South Yorkshire (serving Sheffield and surrounding large towns), terminating in West Yorkshire at Leeds railway station.

Toton Sidings (phase 2b)

[edit]
Main article: East Midlands Hub

Chesterfield (phase 2b)

[edit]
Main article: Chesterfield railway station

Sheffield Midland (phase 2b)

[edit]
Main article: Sheffield railway station

Leeds (phase 2b)

[edit]
Main article: Leeds railway station

HS2 would have reduced the average journey time from central Leeds to London from 2 hours 20 minutes to 1 hour 28 minutes.

Service pattern and journey times

[edit]

Since the cancellation of phase 2 of HS2, services and journey times will differ from the original plans as outlined in the tables below.[43]

Proposed Phase 2 service frequencies from London to the North West and Scotland
Route tph Calling at Train
length
London Euston – Manchester Piccadilly 3 Old Oak Common, Wilmslow (1tph), Stockport 200 m
London Euston – Macclesfield 1 Old Oak Common, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent
Would only operate if phase 2a was open.		 200 m
London Euston – Liverpool Lime Street 1 Old Oak Common, Stafford, Runcorn
Would call at Crewe in lieu of Stafford if phase 2a was open.		 200 m
1 Old Oak Common, Crewe, Runcorn
Would operate combined with the Lancaster train (see below) between London and Crewe if phase 2a was open.		 200 m
London Euston – Lancaster 1 Old Oak Common, Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Preston
Would operate combined with the Liverpool train (see above) between London and Crewe if phase 2a was open.		 200 m
London Euston – Glasgow Central 1 Old Oak Common, Preston, Carlisle 200 m
Proposed Phase 2 journey times
London to/from Fastest journey time
before HS2 (hrs:min) 		Estimated time with full HS2
including Phase 2 (hrs:min) 		Estimated time reduction
with Phase 2 active (min.)
Birmingham 1:21[44] 0:52[44] 0:29
Liverpool 2:03 1:50 0:13[45]
Manchester 2:08 1:40 0:28
Glasgow 4:30 4:00 0:30[45]
Sources:[46][47][48][49]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ DfT (2010a), page 127
  2. ^ a b "Railfuture | HS2 Phase 2 cancellation". Railfuture. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  3. ^ "HS2 rail extension to Leeds scrapped amid promise to transform rail". BBC News. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  4. ^ "HS2: High-speed rail route phase two details announced". BBC News. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Millward, David (6 January 2013). "HS2 route: Manchester and Liverpool win while Sheffield loses out". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Stoke-on-Trent 'ignored' under HS2 rail route plans". BBC News. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Route section HSM09 plan and profile sheet 2 of 2 - drawing number HS2-MSG-WCM-ZZ-DT-RT-60902" (PDF). HS2 phase two initial preferred route plan and profile maps. DfT. January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  8. ^ Millward, David (6 January 2013). "HS2 route: Manchester and Liverpool win while Sheffield loses out". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Stoke-on-Trent 'ignored' under HS2 rail route plans". BBC News. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  10. ^ "Route section HSM09 plan and profile sheet 2 of 2 – drawing number HS2-MSG-WCM-ZZ-DT-RT-60902" (PDF). HS2 phase two initial preferred route plan and profile maps. Department for Transport. January 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  11. ^ "UPDATE: HS2 in Crewe by 2027 – chairman backs Crewe hub station plan". Crewe Guardian. 17 March 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  12. ^ "HS2 Birmingham to Crewe link planned to open six years early". BBC News. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  13. ^ "High Speed Two: From Crewe to Manchester, the West Midlands to Leeds and beyond" (PDF). GOV.UK. Department for Transport. November 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  14. ^ "HS2 Announcement Shows Crewe is on the Right Track". 17 March 2014. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017.
  15. ^ "All change expected on HS2 Phase 2 with new Higgins plan". StopHS2. 9 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Chamber Chairman hails "A new beginning for Crewe"". South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
  17. ^ "Grayling confirms HS2 phase 2 route". Rail Technology Magazine.
  18. ^ "Route section HSM28 plan and profile sheet 5 of 9 - drawing number HS2-MSG-MA0-ZZ-DR-RT-52805" (PDF). HS2 phase two initial preferred route plan and profile maps. DfT. January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  19. ^ "Council chiefs lobby ministers for TWO high speed rail stations". Manchester Evening News. 22 January 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Manchester Airport may be high-speed rail network hub". Manchester Evening News. 13 March 2011. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  21. ^ "Route section HSM28 plan and profile sheet 5 of 9 – drawing number HS2-MSG-MA0-ZZ-DR-RT-52805" (PDF). HS2 phase two initial preferred route plan and profile maps. Department for Transport. January 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  22. ^ "Council chiefs lobby ministers for TWO high speed rail stations". Manchester Evening News. 22 January 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  23. ^ "Manchester Airport may be high-speed rail network hub". Manchester Evening News. 13 March 2011. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  24. ^ "High Speed Two Phase 2b Crewe to Manchester Route Engineering Report: 4.2 Manchester Airport High Speed Station" (PDF). Dft/High Speed Two (HS2) Limited. July 2017. p. 53. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  25. ^ "Manchester Airport High Speed Station" (PDF). UK Government website. High Speed Two (HS2) Limited. 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  26. ^ Department for Transport (2013). High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain's Future – Phase Two, the Route to Leeds, Manchester and Beyond. The Stationery Office. p. 38. ISBN 9780101850827. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  27. ^ "Hopes for 'western loop' tram line". BBC News. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  28. ^ Cox, Charlotte (19 March 2018). "This is how Manchester Airport's HS2 station could look". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  29. ^ Arnett, George (17 March 2014). "How will HS2 change journey times to and from London?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  30. ^ "Phase 2b Western Leg Information Paper F1: Manchester Piccadilly Station" (PDF). gov.uk. 24 January 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  31. ^ Options for Phase 2 of the High Speed rail network. 28 January 2013. p. 96.
  32. ^ "HS2 to enter Manchester via tunnel under city". BBC News. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  33. ^ HS2 Drawings for Greater Manchester Tunnel HS2-MSG-MA0-ZZ-DR-RT-52805 and HS2-MSG-MA0-ZZ-DR-RT-52809
  34. ^ "Tunnel vision". The Guardian. 27 May 2005. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  35. ^ "The HS2 Review" (PDF). HS2. 17 March 2014. p. 12. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  36. ^ "Options for Phase Two" (PDF). 28 January 2013. p. 9. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  37. ^ "HS2 Cost and Risk - Infrastructure rate comparison" (PDF). 28 January 2013. p. 24. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  38. ^ Options for Phase 2 of the High Speed rail network. p. 110.
  39. ^ "Options for High Speed Two Phase 2" (PDF). 28 January 2013. p. 120. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  40. ^ Options for Phase 2 of the High Speed rail network. p. 120.
  41. ^ Baldwinson, Tony (2012). Night Trains: Manchester - Paris. Tony Baldwinson. ISBN 9780957260634. Retrieved 7 February 2013. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  42. ^ a b "New 'parkway' station could be built in East Midlands". Nottingham Evening Post. 3 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  43. ^ HS2 and Euston. House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts - 2023–24 (Report). 24 January 2024.
  44. ^ a b "HS2: What is the route and why is the Manchester link scrapped?". BBC News. 6 October 2023.
  45. ^ a b HS2 Phase One - London to West Midlands Environmental Statement (PDF) (Report). Department for Transport. November 2013.
  46. ^ HS2 Phase 1 Environmental Statement Non-technical summary (PDF) (Report). Department for Transport. November 2013. p. 27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  47. ^ "Our story and key facts" (PDF). High Speed Two Ltd. August 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  48. ^ "High Speed Two (HS2) Phase Two" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  49. ^ "HS2 Journey Planner". High Speed 2. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
Notes
  1. ^ In British usage, a parkway station is one with car parking, remote from the location it is intended to serve
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