An Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands - Accelerating, maximising and securing the benefits of HS2 Phase 2b - Midlands Connect
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An Integrated Rail Plan
for the Midlands
Accelerating, maximising and securing
the benefits of HS2 Phase 2b
August 2020
Making the most of HS2 Integrated Rail Plan – the
Now more than ever, the UK desperately economy, maximising benefits and ensuring swift and story so far
needs an efficient, sustainable and reliable effective delivery.
In February 2020, after a detailed evaluation of methodology it proposes to use to undertake its
railway network. As we move to reboot the As the Sub-National Transport Body for the Midlands, the costs, benefits, challenges and opportunities review. It also shared emerging findings from the
economy in the aftermath of COVID-19, Midlands Connect has worked alongside its partners presented by the construction of our new high-speed initial evidence gathering process. In the coming
to gather evidence, present technical expertise and railway, Boris Johnson committed to building HS2 months, the NIC will undertake further stakeholder
investment in capital infrastructure will gain consensus on the priority schemes the region in full. engagement and research into potential options for
be an essential fiscal tool in supporting needs to make the most of HS2 and fully realise the the IRP before the final assessment is published and
employment, encouraging development and positive impacts it will bring. The recommendations However, the publication of the eagerly-awaited
submitted to the Department for Transport.
Oakervee Review recommended that while the
restoring business confidence. outlined in this submission - if integrated with our
development and delivery of Phase One (from
new high speed network - will deliver benefits sooner,
Although the last to be built, Phase 2b of High Speed
Two (HS2) is central to its purpose and success,
connect more communities, create more jobs and London to Birmingham) and Phase 2a (from
Birmingham to Crewe) should continue as planned. Our Submission
crucially, change more lives for the better.
linking the great cities of the North to the Midlands It was confirmed by the Prime Minister that the
Midlands Connect built consensus across its
and beyond, connecting millions more people to the Department for Transport would develop an
partnership, which includes local enterprise
high speed network, and freeing up capacity on the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) to consider how both
partnerships and local transport authorities
conventional railway across the UK, to the benefit of Eastern and Western legs of Phase 2b could be best
to submit a region-wide response to the NIC’s
millions more. integrated within the wider network.
call for evidence.
This is a once-in-a-generation project, one that will The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC)
The investments and interventions we
create a railway fit for the next century. We must work has been tasked with undertaking a ‘Rail Needs
have suggested form three ‘packages’ and
collaboratively and conscientiously with Government Assessment’ for the Department for Transport,
are aimed at ensuring three outcomes;
to aid the development of its Integrated Rail Plan outlining the options for rail interventions the
accelerating the benefits of HS2 in the
which supports promises to ‘level-up’ the UK Midlands and the North require to make the most
Midlands; maximising the positive impacts
of HS2. This assessment will inform the final IRP,
and ‘reach’ of HS2; and securing the delivery
which Government is due to publish before the end
of HS2 in its entirety.
Sir John Peace, chairman of the year.
Crucially, our response provides an account
of Midlands Connect
In early spring 2020, the NIC launched a ‘Call for
of how Phase 2b of HS2 can be fully
Evidence’; asking local authorities, businesses and
integrated with Midlands Engine Rail, our
“The construction of High Speed Two is a transport bodies to respond to a series of questions,
rail programme composed of seven major
watershed moment for the UK regions, but in and to provide the data and figures required to
interventions, including the flagship Midlands
the Midlands, as in the North, the full benefits justify their rail investment needs. In July 2020,
Rail Hub scheme.
the NIC published an interim report setting out the
of our transformational new railway can only
be delivered if it is integrated with other
strategic improvements, namely Midlands
Engine Rail. Prime Minister Boris Johnson,
The Integrated Rail Plan is our chance to reap addressing Parliament on 11th
the rewards of a decade’s worth of planning, February 2020
to connect more people to the high speed line,
“The review recently conducted by Douglas
and to bring benefits to local communities
Oakervee leaves no doubt of the clinching
sooner. If this Government is going to level up
case for High Speed Rail.”
the UK economy, it must heed the advice of its
experts in the regions to deliver a truly first- “The cabinet has given high-speed rail the
class transport network. green signal. We are going to get this done.”
We are committed to working with the “Together, this revolution in local and
Department for Transport to make this national transport has the potential to be
happen.” truly transformative for the entire country.”
2 3
The proposals and evidence submitted to
the NIC by Midlands Connect act to fulfil
Our Submission To Scotland
Key
three primary ‘aims’: The strategic rail needs of the
Midlands can be grouped into three Newcastle
HS2Add a green line from Derby to
1) Accelerate the benefits of HS2 distinct packages. Nottingham
Package West alongside the purple
Under the delivery schedule outlined in the Oakervee but only add a green circle at
Package East
Package West, which utilises the high Durham
Review, it is possible that the full HS2 network, speed infrastructure delivered in Phase
Nottingham station, not Toton
Package Connect
particularly connections from the East Midlands One and 2a of HS2, Package East, which Darlington
to the West Midlands and North of England, will utilises the high speed infrastructure
not be up and running until 2040. To condemn delivered on the Eastern Leg of Phase
communities that have suffered from chronic, historic 2b of HS2, and Package Connect, which
underinvestment to a two decade wait for the benefits seeks to improve east-west connectivity
of HS2, both in terms of connectivity, job creation across the Midlands. York
and associated development would be a wasted Leeds
opportunity and a betrayal of Government’s pledge to
‘level-up’ the UK economy.
Manchester
Our Integrated Rail Plan proposals would accelerate Doncaster
connectivity improvements, bringing benefits to the Stockport
Midlands and the North sooner. Sheffield
2) Maximise the positive impacts and
‘reach’ of HS2
Chesterfield
Lincoln
Although the high speed network will form the
essential backbone of our future transport network, East Midlands
Hub (Toton)
there is still much work to be done to ensure Crewe Newark Castle
widespread accessibility to this new railway. Much of Stoke-on-Trent
the investment we seek will supplement and enhance Nottingham
Derby
the connectivity HS2 provides by; connecting more
Our ‘accelerate’ schemes people into the high speed network; using the high
Uttoxeter
Burton
To Wales upon Loughborough
Accelerating service benefits between speed network to run new services; or utilising Wellington Trent EMA
Telford
Birmingham and Manchester, using new high capacity that HS2 frees up on the existing network to Shrewsbury
Tamworth
Leicester
speed track between Birmingham and Crewe create faster, more frequent connections across the Wolverhampton Nuneaton
built during Phase 2a, and increasing existing Midlands. Sandwell & Dudley
network capacity between Crewe and Manchester. Birmingham Interchange
Market Harborough
Phase 2b of HS2 must be fully integrated with Kings Norton
This would enable passengers to travel from Coventry Kettering
Midlands Engine Rail for its full benefit to be realised.
BHX
Bromsgrove
Birmingham to Manchester much faster than they Solihull Birmingham Wellingborough
3) Deliver HS2 in its entirety
International
can today, significantly improving journey times Droitwich Spa
Leamington Spa
from 2029. Worcester
There is a sustained and widespread consensus Worcestershire Bedford
Great Malvern Parkway
Accelerating the benefits of the Eastern Leg of amongst the Midlands Connect partnership, that Hereford Banbury
HS2 Phase 2b; allowing for the commencement of the full scope of benefits associated with our high Ledbury
high speed services from Birmingham to the East speed network can only be achieved by delivering the
Midlands Hub at Toton and on to Chesterfield, project in its entirety, an assumption evidenced in Cheltenham Spa
Sheffield and Leeds (via a connection to the the HS2 business case. Although we are advocating
conventional network 10 miles south of Leeds) delivering benefits earlier we must ensure that HS2 Oxford
as early as 2031, deriving journey time savings, is built all the way to Manchester and Leeds, within Old Oak Common
increased capacity and revenue generation earlier. the current specification, and that no measures are
taken to de-scope or scale down infrastructure. Any Newport
Bristol Parkway
omissions or downgrading of the network would Cardiff London
undermine a decade of careful planning and dilute Bristol Reading
the benefits of this transformational scheme.
4 5
Birmingham Airport Connectivity Accelerate Birmingham – Manchester
At present, there are no plans to enhance rail services
Package West: Andy Street,
To Scotland
between Birmingham and Manchester until the
Leveraging Phase One/2a completion of the full HS2 network. In our response
Newcastle
West Midlands Mayor Durham
to the National Infrastructure Commission we have
(Incrementally delivered “The Midlands Rail Hub is a vitally-important
Darlington
put forward a solution that could bring forward
project. It will transform connectivity across significant journey time savings between these two
from 2025-2029) the region, establishing Birmingham Moor
York
major economic centres, before the full HS2 network
Street station as a major interchange, and Doncaster
is operational. We suggest utilising the 60 miles of
opening up access to the new high speed Sheffield
new high speed railway between Birmingham and
network at Curzon Street. It’s essential that we Crewe, built during Phase 2a, combined with a set
This package will utilise the new high speed push ahead with these improvements.” of capacity enhancements on the existing network
infrastructure delivered in Phase One and 2a of
between Crewe and Manchester. This combination
HS2, as well as utilising the additional network
Derby will mean that conventional-compatible services,
capacity HS2 will create on the conventional railway
which run on the high speed line as far as Crewe
to improve journey times between economic centres
then on existing track from Crewe to Manchester can
sooner, enhance local connectivity and improve
provide much faster services than today before the
services for commuters. Birmingham BHX
Birmingham International
full high speed line is up and running.
Coventry
Midlands Rail Hub Solihull
The improvements will create both short-term
Leamington Spa
benefits to inter-regional connectivity and then once
Banbury the full Western Leg of HS2 is complete, long-term
Derby Nottingham benefits for commuters, with the new capacity being
Burton Upon Trent utilised by higher-frequency commuter services in
Loughborough Oxford Greater Manchester, which will also help to reduce
Tamworth Leicester overcrowding in the area.
Nuneaton
Birmingham Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has led
Kings Norton Reading a study into rail capacity south of Manchester and
Bromsgrove
Droitwich
the consensus between Midlands Connect, TfGM,
Worcester Birmingham Airport Connectivity will create new Transport for the North and Network Rail is that
Worcestershire
Hereford
Great Malvern
Parkway and more frequent links to Coventry and Birmingham many important network improvements can only be
Ledbury
International, on the doorstep of Interchange HS2 achieved if this major bottleneck is resolved.
Cheltenham Spa station, linking 2.2 million more people to the high
Manchester
speed network and Birmingham Airport. Derby,
Sheffield, Newcastle, York, and Durham are among Stockport
the places that would benefit from these new direct
Newport
Cardiff
Bristol Parkway
rail connections, while Leamington, Solihull and
Bristol Coventry would be among those benefitting from
Cllr George Duggins, enhanced local commuter links.
Leader of Coventry City Council
Midlands Engine Rail’s flagship scheme will create “Infrastructure investment is central to our
space for 20 more trains every hour into and out future success, which is why it’s so important
of Birmingham Moor Street station, improving that Midlands Connect’s proposals are
Crewe
connections to the South West, Wales, and East brought forward. This includes plans to
Midlands. As Birmingham Moor Street will be reinstate direct rail connections between the
adjacent to the new high speed station at Curzon cities of Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham
Street, the scheme will allow communities in Cardiff, and the Birmingham Airport Connectivity
Bristol, Hereford and Worcester easy access to HS2, scheme, which will open up rail access to
vastly enhancing its geographical reach. Coventry and Birmingham International
stations for over two million people from
The Midlands Rail Hub will also drive huge benefits
Derby, Sheffield, Newcastle and beyond, as
for local commuters, reducing crowding and
well as boosting local commuter links.”
encouraging sustainable travel on a network that has
seen demand double over the past decade. Birmingham
6 7
Package East: Leveraging MC Conventional Compatible Services Accelerate Birmingham – Leeds The running of these faster services up to Leeds
would occur alongside the commencement of high
Midlands Engine Rail includes plans for two HS2
Phase 2b Eastern Leg conventional-compatible services that will run Leeds
speed services from a redeveloped London Euston
station, currently scheduled for 2031.
(Incrementally delivered direct from: Bedford – Leicester – East Midlands
Hub – Leeds, and Nottingham – East Midlands Hub This intervention would catalyse regeneration and
from 2027-2031) – Birmingham. These services would run on both development around the new HS2 station sites,
electrified and high speed tracks, and would join the generate operational income sooner and benefit
HS2 network at Toton via an alternative junction communities in the East Midlands that have suffered
layout which allows direct connections onto the high from decades of underinvestment.
This package focuses on accelerating the speed network in both directions. Sheffield
commencement of high speed services to the
HS2 East Midlands Hub at Toton as well as the This solution would bring HS2 trains directly into
Lilian Greenwood,
economic centres of Chesterfield, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester city centres, without the Chesterfield
need for interchange and more than halve current
MP for Nottingham South
and Leeds, using HS2 as a catalyst for economic
East Midlands
development, regeneration and sorely-needed journey times between economic centres in the “The aim of the Integrated Rail Plan is to make
Hub (Toton)
regional transport improvements. Midlands and the North. Our proposal would see the most of HS2; connecting more people into
journey times between Leicester and Leeds drop from the high speed network. Not only can these
Access to Toton 120 to 50 minutes and Nottingham to Birmingham fall plans bring high speed trains directly into
from 72 to 33 minutes. Nottingham and Leicester city centres, but
they would more than halve current journey
East Midlands Leeds
times. It’s essential that Government provides
Hub (Toton)
Midlands Connect with the resources it needs to
bring them forward.”
Derby Nottingham
To London
Birmingham
Loughborough
EMA Midland Main Line Electrification
We believe that there could be an interim solution
which would allow high speed services to run The plans outlined in Package East require the
Leicester
from Birmingham to the East Midlands Hub at full electrification of the Midland Main Line,
Toton, Sheffield, Chesterfield and onto Leeds (via a either to run (MC Conventional Compatible
East Midlands Nottingham connection to the conventional rail network ten miles services and Accelerate Birmingham – Leeds) or
This multimodal transport strategy is designed
Hub (Toton) south of the city centre) as early as 2031, up to nine to operate in a carbon efficient manner (Access
to support, accelerate and maximise the benefits
years earlier than scheduled. to Toton). We ask that these vital plans are
of HS2 in the East Midlands by connecting towns, Loughborough
reinstated, and that Government commits to a
cities and villages across the region to the HS2 East This can be achieved by accelerating the construction
Leicester truly carbon-neutral rail network.
Midlands Hub at Toton. The rail interventions in of the Eastern Leg of Phase 2b from Birmingham
this plan include four shuttle services per hour from to the HS2 East Midlands Hub at Toton, all the way
Birmingham Market Harborough
Derby, Leicester and Nottingham to the HS2 East north to Crofton, just south of Leeds, as well as
Midlands Hub; plus reopening the Maid Marian Line Kettering
upgrading the conventional railway line between
to passenger traffic, connecting Mansfield to the HS2 Wellingborough
Sheffield and Claydon.
East Midlands Hub. Phase One of the plan can be
Bedford In the interim, these conventional compatible
delivered in the next decade.
services would run from Birmingham to Crofton
on the new high speed line, then run the remaining
Cllr Kay Cutts MBE, ten miles from Crofton to Leeds on the existing
Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council network, terminating at two new platforms at Leeds
“The arrival of High Speed Two in investment are spread far and wide. We are keen station. This would be a temporary measure until the
Nottinghamshire will bring with it widespread to work alongside Government to ensure that the logistically-complex approach to Leeds’ new high
regeneration, development and highly-skilled East Midlands sees benefits as soon as possible, speed terminus is completed. However, these new
jobs. This comprehensive plan ensures that and that these improvements are included in its platforms will provide much-needed capacity for
communities in our towns and villages can access Integrated Rail Plan” additional commuter services into Leeds once the CGI of planned HS2 East Midlands Hub at Toton, including
these opportunities, and that the benefits of this full HS2 network is complete, the need for which is on-site innovation campus and new housing development
reinforced by Transport for the North.
8 9
Darren Henry,
MP for Broxtowe
Package Connect: Birmingham – Black Country – Shrewsbury
“Levelling-up the UK economy means
Enhancing East – West To Wales
spreading the benefits of Government
investment to all corners of the country. These
connectivity (Incrementally Wellington
Telford plans will create a truly green and connected
delivered from 2021-2033) Shrewsbury
Wolverhampton
transport network for generations to come.
Our new high speed network will be a game-
Sandwell & Dudley changer for the Midlands, we must now
Birmingham ensure it is fully integrated with Midlands
Sir John Peace, Maria Machancoses, Robert Jenrick MP
This package includes the remaining elements of Engine Rail.”
and Lilian Greenwood MP at Midlands Engine Rail launch
Midlands Engine Rail that are focused on promoting
east – west connectivity across the Midlands region, This scheme will increase the frequency of services
often on routes where the proportion of journeys between Birmingham, the Black Country, Telford
made by rail is woefully low, or where poor service and Shrewsbury, utilising the extra network capacity What now? Our ‘asks’
levels are stifling additional demand. Many of these freed up by HS2. This enhancement would also see
improvements utilise network capacity released by the reintroduction of direct London – Telford services, The Midlands Engine Rail programme and this That Midlands Connect is granted the
HS2 or have business cases that are strengthened and link communities to the full high speed network wider submission is the culmination of many opportunity to discuss its proposals with officials
by the increase in rail patronage our new high speed via Birmingham Interchange station. years’ work, gathering in-depth evidence and in the Department for Transport and National
line will create. building consensus amongst political, civic Infrastructure Commission
Nottingham – Lincoln
and business leaders from across the region. That Government provides the funding needed
Midlands Rail Hub
(Coventry-Leicester-Nottingham) Midlands Connect now seeks an open dialogue to bring forward the development of a number
Lincoln with the Department for Transport as it drafts of important, and time-sensitive projects, in-line
Nottingham its final Integrated Rail Plan. with its ambitions to accelerate the delivery of
infrastructure projects, as part of ‘project speed’
Newark Castle
Loughborough
Scheme Development Stage Funding Required
Leicester
Nottingham
Access to Toton (Phase Outline Business £4.5 million
One) Case
We are currently investigating the potential for
Coventry line speed improvements, achieved through the
installation of an enhanced signalling system, and Birmingham Airport Full Business Case £20 million
The remaining improvement planned within our additional services between Nottingham and Lincoln. Connectivity
Midlands Rail Hub scheme would reinstate direct
Derby – Stoke - Crewe
services between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham
MC Conventional Outline Business £2 million
via a dive under at Nuneaton. The slow, indirect
Compatible services Case
service currently in place means that at present, only
Crewe
one per cent of journeys between these major cities
Stoke-on-Trent Although not exhaustive, the ‘asks’ above relate to projects where the need for
are made by rail. This intervention will increase rail
mode share on this important route. Derby
funding is most time sensitive. £26.5 million
Cllr Ian Ward,
Uttoxeter
Rail scheme development lifecycle
Leader of Birmingham City Council Strategic Outline
Outline Business Case
“Midlands Connect’s technical experts have Travellers on the Crewe-Derby rail corridor suffer Feasibility study Business Case
(OBC)
put these plans together using industry from a slow, infrequent service. Midlands Connect is (SOBC)
insight, feedback from partners and crucially, currently examining the case for higher line speeds
evidence. Government should seriously and more regular services – the latter is likely to
consider these proposals as it writes its be dependent on growth in demand linked to the Full Business Case
Delivery
Integrated Rail Plan.” opening of HS2 services at Crewe and at the HS2 East (FBC)
Midlands Hub
10 11
Immingham •
• Grimsby
•
Glossop
• Buxton • Chesterfield • Lincoln
• Matlock • Mansfield Skegness •
• Newark-On-Trent
• Stoke-On-Trent
Boston •
• Nottingham
• Derby • Grantham
• Oswestry
• Stafford • Burton upon Trent
• Loughborough
• Shrewsbury
• Telford • Lichfield • Oakham
• Tamworth • Leicester
Wolverhampton • • Walsall
Nuneaton •
Dudley • • Oldbury
• Birmingham
Kidderminster • Solihull • • Coventry
• Ludlow
• Redditch
Warwick •
Worcester • Stratford- •
Upon-Avon
• Hereford
• Ross -On-Wye
Baskerville
House, 2 Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2ND
midlandsconnect.uk
MCAdmin@midlandsconnect.uk
@MidsConnect
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