Recommendations for high speed rail project HS2’s route and station locations in South Yorkshire – revealed in a report today (July 7) by HS2 Ltd Chairman Sir David Higgins – have been welcomed by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.
It’s recommended that HS2 line services between London and Sheffield would take a spur off the new north-south high speed line and travel directly to the existing Sheffield Train Station, using the existing railway line. These trains therefore could potentially also call at Chesterfield.
There is also the future option of HS2 services extending onwards to the existing Meadowhall station, Rotherham or Barnsley.
A city centre station solution for Sheffield high speed services would allow the main HS2 line to be built east of the previously proposed route, through less densely populated areas, which would avoid the need to build a line via Meadowhall.
Sir David’s report says the newly proposed route would cut journey times on services heading to Leeds, York and Newcastle, and reduce project costs by around £1billion.
The plans have been welcomed by the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – and by the neighbouring D2N2 LEP; which promotes economic growth and jobs creation across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 LEP, said: “Today’s (July 7) HS2 Ltd report, recommending a different approach to the high speed line through South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire is very good news for HS2 supporters in the D2N2 area.
“Not only would the recommendation save money, and potentially provide greater connectivity to Chesterfield, but it makes more likely Government’s acceptance of the proposed HS2 eastern leg, from Birmingham to Leeds and beyond, which includes an East Midlands’ rail hub at Toton in Nottinghamshire.
“HS2 will deliver significant economic benefits to the East Midlands and an economic case for Phase Two is much stronger than for Phase One.
“We are already investing time and effort looking at how we could make the most of HS2 and the economic benefits it would bring – through a joint working group of councils, Local Enterprise Partnerships, business and other key stakeholders from the Midlands, Yorkshire, North-East and Scotland – and that group will be publishing its own report later this month (July).
“It is important, particularly in this time of uncertainty, that the Government confirms the route through our area as soon as possible and we plan effectively now to reap the maximum economic returns.”
A Government decision on Phase Two of the HS2 project is expected to be made by the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, later this year.
More about this HS2 announcement and a copy of Sir David Higgins’ report can be read at web link www.gov.uk/government/news/david-higgins-recommends-new-hs2-plans-for-south-yorkshire
Media wanting further information on the work of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership can contact D2N2 Communications Manager Sean Kirby on 0115 957 8749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
