Former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has expressed cautious optimism over the government’s recent announcement of a new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester, while strongly rejecting Reform UK’s proposal to scrap HS2 entirely.
Mr Street, a Conservative, along with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Labour, had previously collaborated on alternative plans following the government’s 2023 decision to cancel the northern leg of HS2. They agreed that simply abandoning the project was not an option and proposed several potential solutions, including building a fresh rail route.
Nearly two years later, the Labour government unveiled intentions to create this Birmingham-Manchester connection. However, details remain scarce, and the project is likely to be delayed until after the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme is completed, projecting a timeline that could stretch over decades.
READ MORE: Significant Drop in Drug-Related Crime in West Midlands Sparks Cautious Optimism
READ MORE: E.ON Next Lowers Fixed 15-Month Tariff Prices Starting April 1
Responding to the announcement, Mr Street acknowledged, “The good news is they’ve accepted the need for an upgrade and recognize the logic of a new route. The bad news is the significant delay, but at least the concept remains alive.”
He emphasized that keeping the idea alive was a result of cross-party cooperation following former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s cancellation of the northern HS2 segment. “It’s obvious that after building fast lines to Birmingham and across the Pennines, linking these is the simplest yet most critical part. It’s also among the most congested railways, so the benefits are immense.”
Not all are convinced. Birmingham City Council Conservatives criticized the announcement as a “vague promise” unlikely to help either city soon, pointing to its projected start two decades from now.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the Northern Powerhouse Rail as a “major new rail network across the North that will deliver faster, more frequent services,” signaling a firm government commitment to regional infrastructure. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also praised the government’s renewed ambition and openness to innovations like an underground station in Manchester city centre.
Asked about Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice’s calls to cancel HS2, which he labeled a “train to nowhere,” Mr Street was unequivocal: “Scrapping it now would mean writing off billions of pounds. That makes no sense—utter nonsense.”
He argued the project must be completed swiftly to justify the investment and enable benefits that extend to Manchester and beyond. However, he acknowledged the necessity of controlling costs, stating no further funds should be spent beyond Birmingham until financial management improves.
Mr Street also backed HS2 CEO Mark Wild’s recent “reset” strategy aimed at addressing previous setbacks. He called for new target dates and a united effort to communicate HS2’s benefits—economic regeneration, improved capacity on the West Coast Main Line, and environmental gains—to restore public confidence.
Mark Wild himself gave an end-of-year update highlighting a thorough programme review and progress made during the reset, expressing gratitude to the 34,000 workers sustaining the project.
As the government pushes forward, the Birmingham-Manchester rail link remains a long-term goal, embodying the complex challenges of large-scale infrastructure but holding promise for transformative impact across the North and Midlands.