THE Government has been urged to honour its commitment to the Eastern leg of HS2 in full as an “integral part of High Speed North”.

The leaders of the Connecting Britain Campaign, a coalition of Mayoral combined authorities, local authorities and businesses, have called on the Government to reject the Rail Needs Assessment (RNA) from the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC).
It recommended that investment should be focused on boosting mainline services across the North and the Midlands rather than the full eastern leg of the high-speed railway to Leeds.

In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, leaders say the options presented in the RNA would “seriously inhibit economic growth and rebalancing”. 

They want to see a “clear timescale that honours your commitment and sets out when the Eastern leg will be delivered in full and at pace” and that every year of delay costs the North and Midlands £4.9bn.

Their letter says: “Levelling up is an ambitious objective, and one that can make a real difference to the economies of the North and Midlands, as well as the quality of life and employment opportunities for people who live there.

"The commitment to deliver the northern parts of HS2 in full is the first test of the reality of the levelling up agenda. Going back on this commitment would see levelling up fall at the first hurdle, and would make a vision of a balanced, fair country for everyone impossible to deliver.

“We urge you and your government colleagues to dismiss the RNA and develop plans that honour your commitment to deliver the Eastern leg in full as an integral part of High Speed North.”