en.Wedoany.com Reported - Andy Burnham has pledged to restore the HS2 railway section from Birmingham to Manchester if elected Prime Minister. The Greater Manchester Mayor stated over the weekend that he would restart construction of the northern leg of HS2, which was canceled by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak nearly three years ago.
To ease pressure on public finances, Burnham plans to adopt a financing model similar to that of Crossrail. In his view, the lack of high-quality railway infrastructure in northern England has constrained regional economic growth, and building these facilities would lay the foundation for higher growth.
Burnham, who is contesting the Makerfield by-election on Thursday, said he would use smarter methods to raise funds for the project, avoiding the full cost being borne by public finances. When Sunak canceled the Birmingham-to-Manchester section, he claimed the move would free up £36 billion in funds.
Burnham emphasized that his previous funding plan for Crossrail included contributions from businesses and residents. The private sector contributed nearly £7 billion to Crossrail through two government schemes: a business rates supplement and the Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy (MCIL). The business rates supplement, implemented in April 2010, imposed a two-pence levy on larger non-residential properties in London; developers must pay MCIL for London projects that will benefit from transport upgrades. Medical and educational projects are exempt from MCIL.
Burnham believes the government could learn from the Battersea Northern Line Extension project in London, using land value appreciation around new stations to fund large-scale infrastructure projects. He stated that it is not about taking all the windfall gains from landowners, but sharing a portion of them, using the land value created by infrastructure to repay construction costs.
Huw Merriman, Chairman of the High Speed Rail Group, said Burnham's pledge to restore the canceled line is encouraging. The group is an industry coalition advocating for high-speed rail and broader railway infrastructure. Merriman noted that a new connection between Birmingham and Manchester would increase transport capacity to the north, while helping the government achieve its ambition of a more balanced UK economy. He urged the timely launch of the next phase of planning, adding that HS2's greatest value will be realized within a wider national network, connecting cities, unlocking passenger and freight capacity, and supporting growth across regions.
Last month, Burnham announced he would challenge current Prime Minister Keir Starmer if elected as an MP in Makerfield. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said last month that the first phase of HS2, from London to Birmingham, could cost between £87.7 billion and £102.7 billion at 2025 prices. The first HS2 services are expected to run from Old Oak Common to Birmingham Curzon Street, with an opening date between May 2036 and October 2039.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
