24.10.14
McLoughlin tells RTM: HS2 and Northern Hub vital for rebalancing UK
Following yesterday’s HS2 supply chain conference, RTM was able to catch up with the secretary of state for transport, Patrick McLoughlin, to get his views on the major rail projects in the north.
Having arrived late for the event due to a delay on London Underground, WCML and Manchester Metrolink services, he jokingly said that his experience in the morning had convinced him, even more so, that “we need to update our national rail system”.
Talking to RTM about HS2 and the Northern Hub project, he said that when the two combine together they’re going to be “vitally important”.
“One of the things that I’ve often said in this country is that we do north/south not too bad, we have a capacity problem but we are addressing that with projects like HS2,” he said. “But we don’t do east/west particularly well. It is rather odd that we don’t link up Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Hull as well as it should be.
“I think looking at the northern belt and improving connectivity is vitally important.”
Asked about chancellor George Osborne’s announcement earlier this year with regards to a potential HS3 line to connect northern cities, McLoughlin said it was very encouraging and it will help balance the country’s economy.
Having talked about the opportunities available for suppliers on HS2, McLoughlin stated that “people talk about the money we’re spending on HS2, but they overlook the fact that we’ve spent £15bn on Crossrail – which has been a fantastic project”.
Going forward with HS2, he says that the team will take away a number of lessons learned from Crossrail and apply them to the high speed project in terms of procurement, construction and developing skills – especially with the new high speed college.
(Image: c. HS2 Ltd)
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