Weekly Wrap | Lofty rail plans paper over HS2 uncertainty
Seven days into a post(ish)-Brexit Britain and all looks very familiar; Liverpool continue their march towards Premier League domination, storms continue to batter the country, and we are all still waiting for a decision on High Speed 2.
The DfT has remained very quiet on HS2 this week and little has come out since the BBC revealed details of the Oakervee review last week. HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston is, however, remaining upbeat about the project claiming that it is “key for the future of infrastructure in this country”, while speaking at the launch of the High Speed Rail Group Apprentice Network in Birmingham.
But in the absence of a concrete decision on the country’s biggest infrastructure project, other schemes and lofty proposals across the country have taken centre stage. In the Midlands, mayor Andy Street unveiled a ￡15bn, 20-year vision to transform rail and metro links in the region. The plan includes opening eight new metro lines and 21 new rail stations across the West Midlands by 2040. As part of Street’s metro plan, 280 new stops would be added across 240km of rail lines.
Meanwhile, supporters of East West Rail have had reason to cheer as the Oxford to Cambridge line took huge strides forwards this week. First, the preferred route for the central section of the line was unveiled and then days later transport secretary Grant Shapps gave the green light for construction to begin on the next phase of the line.
Off the railways and onto the roads and there has also been plenty to celebrate. A week after revealing revised designs for the Lower Thames Crossing, Highways England launched its search for a delivery partner to oversee the ￡6.8bn project. And Highways England also revealed that work on the A14 will finish way ahead of schedule with the road now set to open six months early.
Elsewhere this week, New Civil Engineer explored the possibilities for Shapps’ ￡500M rail fund, the Scottish Government unveiled its infrastructure plans in its budget, and Network Rail revealed that it was rethinking track maintenance procedures following several freight derailments.
This week's top stories:
HS2 CEO bullish about project’s future ahead of government decision
￡15bn plan to build new rail and metro lines in West Midlands
Green light for next phase of East West Rail
Delivery partner sought for ￡6.8bn Lower Thames Crossing