A proposal to build a new 50-mile railway line as a cheaper but slower alternative to a scrapped section of HS2 has been unveiled.
A report has said journeys between London and Manchester on the line would only be 15 minutes longer than they would have been under the original HS2 plans.
The journey time would also be 30 minutes quicker than they are today.
The consortium behind it found the new line has the potential to deliver “roughly 85% of the benefits of HS2 Phase 2” at 60-75% of the cost.
The report, commissioned by the mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, found that creating a new rail link between the Midlands and the North West is critical to enhance capacity for passengers and freight moving between the regions.
It comes nearly a year after then-prime minister Rishi Sunak cancelled a plan to extend HS2 between the West Midlands and Manchester amid spiralling costs.
Now, a coalition of private sector organisations led by former HS2 Ltd chairman Sir David Higgins described the proposed alternative new line between Lichfield, Staffordshire and High Legh, Cheshire, connecting with the proposed east-west Northern Powerhouse Rail, as a “golden opportunity”.
This would create a new link between Manchester and Birmingham.
The report did not provide an estimated cost of the new project, but said financing should be “maximised from the private sector”, with central and local governments “partnering to fund the balance”.
Costs would be lower than with HS2 because of the need to design tracks for lower speeds and using simplified connections with the existing rail network, according to the report.
Another method to save money will be from using ballasted track, whereby rails are supported by a layer of crushed rock and gravel.
HS2, which will now only run between London and the West Midlands, will be built using slab track, which means rails are fixed onto a solid base, which is more expensive.
The report its plan would also “save the taxpayer £2 billion on costs” from the HS2 Phase 2 cancellation through re-using much of the land, powers and design work already secured through public funds.
The consortium recommended that the government maintains ownership of land acquired for HS2 Phase 2a between the West Midlands and Crewe.
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The construction site for the HS2 project at Euston in London
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: “The report is clear: if we fail to put in place a plan soon to fix rail capacity and connectivity between the North and the Midlands, the already-congested West Coast Main Line and M6 will become major barriers to economic growth in the UK.
“But there is good news for the Government. The report concludes that we do not have to revive HS2 to unlock those benefits.
“There is a viable option to build a new rail line between Lichfield and High Legh, connecting HS2 to Northern Powerhouse Rail, with almost all of the benefits of HS2 delivered quickly and, crucially, at a significantly lower cost.”
West Midlands mayor Richard Parker said: “Additional rail capacity to and from the North is vital for the West Midlands.
“It’s about more than quicker journeys, it’s about connecting people, communities, and businesses to jobs and opportunities.
“I’ll work with the Government to ensure this happens.”