- HS2 will transform the country. HS2 is the most important economic regeneration project in decades. ...
- Connecting our great cities. HS2 trains will serve over 25 stations, from Scotland to the South East. ...
- Better connections mean growth and jobs. ...
- Better connections will boost tourism and leisure. ...
Could HS2 boost the UK economy by £15bn a year?
A new report says the HS2 rail project could boost the UK economy by £15bn a year. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin presented the findings as he reasserted the case for the new rail line. The report, from accountants KPMG, says that regions outside London will be the biggest beneficiaries of the new service.
How will HS2 affect other cities?
This does not mean other cities may not receive some economic benefit from HS2, which could stimulate growth and play a role in rebalancing the economy if coupled with appropriate policies to foster economic growth. (Paragraph 277) 310. HS2 must not lead to a reduction in investment in improving other areas of the UK rail network.
What is HS2 and why is it so important?
HS2 is the most important economic regeneration project in decades. It will act as a catalyst for growth and help level-up the country, boosting growth in the Midlands and North. Better connectivity opens-up new employment and leisure opportunity for millions of people. Connecting our great cities
What is the economic case for HS2?
The Economic Case described how increasing connectivity by speeding up journey times between cities on or connected to the HS2 route would increase productivity. [ 286 ] "With HS2, cities effectively become 'closer' to each other, which makes it easier for businesses (and people) to interact and coordinate activities across city boundaries.
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How much will HS2 boost economy?
The latest study was commissioned by HS2 Ltd, the company responsible for developing and promoting the project. It says Birmingham's economy could be boosted between 2.1% and 4.2% a year, while Manchester would benefit between 0.8% and 1.7%. For Leeds, the boost would be 1.6% and London 0.5%.
What benefits will HS2 bring?
By moving long-distance traffic from our current rail infrastructure onto the new high-speed line, HS2 will create the extra room needed to improve local and inter-regional services. Meanwhile, HS2 trains will be able to carry 576,000 people per day, reducing overcrowding on the existing network.
How will HS2 benefit the UK?
It will create significant benefits for all, delivering improved connections between our major cities, introducing more seats and services for passengers, and creating thousands of new jobs and opportunities for people and businesses across the UK.
Why can it be argued that HS2 is important for the future of the British economy?
HS2 is the most effective way to provide much-needed additional rail capacity. It will double capacity on the crowded West Coast Main Line corridor. Demand for rail travel is forecast to continue growing steadily for the next 20-30 years and many services will be full by the mid-2020s if we do not act now.
Is HS2 environmentally friendly?
As the low carbon alternative for long distance travel, HS2 will help the country's fight against climate change. It will take cars and lorries off the roads and reduce the need for domestic flights, making transport, Britain's largest carbon emitter, more environmentally friendly.
Why does the government want HS2?
The new line is thus considered a part of the UK government's plans to tackle climate change. HS2 is further seen as a way of tackling overcrowding on a number of Britain's major railway routes. Under current capacity constraints, the West Coast Main Line is forecast to become overloaded south of Rugby by 2025.
Do we really need HS2?
The capacity HS2 is going to deliver is absolutely crucial." While it is being built, it is expected to create thousands of jobs. People doing all sorts of work will be needed for it, from engineers to IT workers.
Why high-speed rail is a good idea?
According to the International Association of Railways (UIC), high-speed rail is eight times more energy efficient than airplanes and four times more efficient than automobile use. It will also decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
How will HS2 affect people?
HS2 Limited will work to reduce the impact of noise from building near schools and places of education. Heath. This could have a bigger impact on Christians and Muslims.
Who is in Favour of HS2?
Organisations that support the HS2 project include: The three major UK political parties: Conservative, Labour (albeit with some criticism of the proposed route) and the Liberal Democrats. In Labour's 2019 manifesto the party said it would extend the dedicated high-speed track to Scotland.
How will HS2 help the North?
HS2 will provide a step-change in connectivity to the North, bringing people, their skills and businesses closer together to open up markets and create a more balanced economy, the report said.
How does HS2 benefit North?
Phase 2b of HS2 will be transformative for Greater Manchester and the wider North West. The benefits of delivering HS2 in full are many. It will promote economic growth, trigger business investment, unlock labour markets and enable regeneration of areas that desperately need 'levelling up'.
What is HS2 advantages and disadvantages?
But HS2 is quite controversial. Those who support the project say it will improve transport times, create jobs and help the country's economy. Critics of it though, are worried about how it will impact wildlife, the countryside, their homes and how much it will cost.
What are the benefits of high-speed rail?
According to the International Association of Railways (UIC), high-speed rail is eight times more energy efficient than airplanes and four times more efficient than automobile use. It will also decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
What social benefits will HS2 bring to Birmingham?
BenefitsThe creation of Birmingham's Curzon Street station envisages he creation of 36,000 new jobs.Solihull Interchange Station, located within The Hub, support the creation of 70,000 jobs.30 million people connected via the HS2 trains.An average GVA increase of £680 per worker.More items...
How does HS2 benefit North?
Phase 2b of HS2 will be transformative for Greater Manchester and the wider North West. The benefits of delivering HS2 in full are many. It will promote economic growth, trigger business investment, unlock labour markets and enable regeneration of areas that desperately need 'levelling up'.
Who is responsible for the HS2 study?
The latest study was commissioned by HS2 Ltd, the company responsible for developing and promoting the project.
Why was HS2 rejected?
In a speech at the Institute of Civil Engineers, Mr McLoughlin argued that rejecting HS2 would amount to a "national loss of nerve". HS2 was necessary because the "clogged arteries" of the nation's transport system needed a "heart bypass", he said.
When will the High Speed Line run?
The high-speed line would run between London and Birmingham from 2026 before being extended to Manchester and Leeds from 2033.
Is HS2 a waste of money?
John Longworth from the British Chambers of Commerce backs HS2, but Mark Littlewood from the Institute of Economic Affairs says it is a waste of money. "A £15bn annual boost to the economy. With the North and Midlands gaining at least double the benefit of the south.".
How does HS2 help the environment?
HS2 will free up capacity on the existing lines, enabling more local commuter services and more freight services – more freight trains will help take lorries off the road and provide environmental benefits.
How long will HS2 cost?
The cost of HS2 will be spread out over 15-20 years. Therefore we can afford it.
How much did HS2 cost in 2015?
The costs of HS2 continue to rise. Initially, in 2015, the project was forecast to cost £56bn but could now the total cost could soar to over £100bn. The higher cost is partly due to more expensive tunnelling to keep down noise to residents near the track. One report claims HS2 costs are out of control ( BBC)
How does high speed rail help?
Offering high-speed rail will encourage more people to travel by train relieving gridlock in city centres. Therefore, it is not just rail travellers who will benefit, but those who gain from lower congestion on the roads. HS2 will free up capacity on the existing lines, enabling more local commuter services and more freight services – more freight ...
What is HS2 in 2021?
29 January 2021 by Tejvan Pettinger. HS2 is a proposed new railway line linking London Euston to Birmingham, and in the second phase – Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and eventually Scotland. Supporters of high-speed rail argue it is necessary to meet the UK’s rapidly growing demand for travel. High-speed rail will provide ...
What would happen if HS2 was not met?
If extra capacity is not met by HS2 it could lead to large ticket prices on existing services to prevent overcrowding on peak services.
Why is high speed rail important?
High-speed rail will provide the greenest, safest and most efficient form of transport. The investment will provide a major boost to business and the economy; the faster rail links will help reduce the north-south divide and overcome the externalities of car use. Opponents of high-speed rail argue that it is primarily an unnecessary project ...
How much will HS2 boost the UK economy?
249. KPMG estimated that HS2 could potentially generate £15 billion per year in productivity gains for the UK economy from 2037 once Phase One and Phase Two were both in operation. However, it also noted that some cities would experience a reduction in productivity as firms moved away from these cities to places that had become more attractive. [ 301 ] Commentators have criticised the accuracy of this figure (see Box 7). However, Professor Vickerman was positive about the work despite scepticism about the magnitude of the effect. He said that "whether [the economic uplift] is £15 billion or £8 billion or £5 billion seems to me to be a second order question to whether it is an overall gain. The answer is yes." [ 302]
How will HS2 benefit Scotland?
264. The Strategic Case said that HS2 will benefit Scotland: "Scotland will benefit from high speed services from Edinburgh and Glasgow as soon as Phase One of HS2 opens. Phase Two is expected to reduce journey times by up to an hour without the need to change trains, benefiting the Scottish economy.
Why is Sheffield HS2 station at Meadowhall?
Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham have argued for the Sheffield HS2 station to be based at Meadowhall because of the increased connectivity to their cities provided by this location. Sir David noted that this was an area of growth: "The hightech job growth in that area is coming in Rotherham and Barnsley, and a lot of the railway jobs and new academy are in Doncaster." He told us that locating the HS2 station in Sheffield city centre would add £1 billion to the cost of construction. [ 348 ]
Why did KPMG criticize the rail industry?
Firstly, the figure for the rail productivity benefits included a degree of double-counting of the positive effects of both road and of rail on improving connectivity. Secondly, the assessment of transport's effect on GDP failed to account for the evidence which showed that the higher productivity of better connected places was in part explained by their tendency to attract highly skilled people.
Why is it important to link stations to local transport networks?
312. It is important that stations are linked into local transport networks in order to reduce the risk that HS2 brings little or no economic benefit to nearby areas. We agree with the Growth Task Force that the Government should provide leadership nationally to ensure that the right steps are taken to prepare cities with stations for HS2. (Paragraph 295)
What is the HS2 Growth Taskforce?
The HS2 Growth Taskforce was established to examine how to maximise economic growth and job opportunities from the Government's plans to build a high speed rail network. The taskforce published their final report, High Speed 2: Get Ready in March 2014. [ 361] The report's conclusions were divided into four themes:
How does HS2 help the West Midlands?
298. The Strategic Case said that "HS2 has the potential to increase the amount of freight that can be carried by rail between London and the West Midlands by using the existing mainline capacity that it released." It estimated that "HS2 could provide space for an extra 20 West Coast Main Line freight paths (and possibly more subject to detailed train planning)." Previous research had concluded that "40 additional freight paths could remove up to 1,600 lorries a day from the motorways and could deliver benefits of up to £1.3bn to the economy [over 60 years]." [ 370 ]
How much will HS2 benefit the Scottish economy?
HS2 will benefit the Scottish economy by over £5bn.
Why is HS2 important?
It will act as a catalyst for growth and help level-up the country, boosting growth in the Midlands and North. Better connectivity opens-up new employment and leisure opportunity for millions of people.
What is HS2 rail?
They include eight of Britain’s ten largest cities. HS2 is the backbone for both Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Midlands Rail Hub to further connect the great cities of the Midlands and the North. Use our interactive journey planner to explore the cities and places HS2 will connect.
How many jobs will the HS2 hub create?
In York, the York Central partnership sees the HS2-ready hub as an economic magnet. Around the station it will help unlock 2,500 new homes, up to 6,500 jobs and create over £1.1 billion value for the region’s economy.
How many jobs will the Greater Manchester Combined Authority have by 2050?
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has the potential to double the economic output of Greater Manchester to £132bn by 2050, delivering 96,000 jobs and 16,800 homes. We’re working with the authority and other stakeholders to ensure that the region achieves the full potential of HS2.
How many jobs will the Linking Liverpool campaign create?
On Merseyside, the Linking Liverpool campaign’s ambitions include creating 20,000 new jobs, building 10,000 new homes and boosting the city region’s economy by £15 billion through improved connectivity. We’re working with Liverpool City Region , Liverpool City Council , Halton Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council to ensure the region achieves the full potential of HS2.
Will Euston Station be transformed?
Euston station and the area around it will also be transformed .
What are the arguments against HS2?
One of the biggest arguments against HS2 is around how it might impact on the country's green spaces and countryside.
Who criticised the HS2 plan?
Wildlife presenter Chris Packham has also criticised the plans. On social media he said that by approving HS2 Boris Johnson "continues the war on nature".
When will the HS2 train line be completed?
The whole HS2 project is due to be completed by 2040, but it is already behind schedule. Preparation of the route started back in 2015, but now that the plans are being given the green light, building the actual train line can start.
Where is the HS2 project?
The scheme was officially given the go-ahead by Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this year. Phase 1 of the project will be between London and Birmingham, while the second phase will extend the route further north to Manchester and Leeds. But HS2 is quite controversial.
How much did the sandbox project cost?
The cost of the project was originally estimated to be around £56 billion but last summer the government admitted the project was running around £30 billion over budget.
