Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the timetable for completion of the High Speed Rail Phase 2b to take traffic.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The government is taking forward the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill to deliver the Northern Powerhouse Rail route into Manchester via Manchester Airport. We have not reversed the previous government’s decision to cancel HS2 Phase 2 and will adapt the bill to deliver only the section of route necessary for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

In light of lessons from HS2, we are carefully developing detailed plans for delivery. However, from our work to date, we expect major construction works for the Liverpool to Manchester section of the route to commence in the mid-2030s and continue into the 2040s.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the statutory guidance Implementing low traffic neighbourhoods, published on 17 March 2024, is current government policy.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The guidance was published in draft in March 2024 but never brought into force. The Government is considering next steps and more information will be made available in due course.

As is longstanding policy, local authorities are best placed to decide what traffic management schemes are appropriate, including low-traffic neighbourhoods, but they should always be developed through engagement with local communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, pursuant to the HS2 Project Update, published on 25 March, which states “We must slow or pause some work while other sites catch up. This includes … secondary work supporting London’s tunnel network” and “We’ve deferred some works outside this area, including … secondary works on the London tunnels network”, what is the scope of that secondary work.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

HS2 Ltd has extended the deferral of works between Birmingham and Handsacre, in place since spring 2023, to focus efforts on the cost-efficient delivery of the opening stage of HS2 between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street. The scope of secondary works on the tunnels include construction activity relating to tunnel vent shafts, headhouses and walkways.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish any further reports, previously commissioned by HS2 Ltd, on the risk of settlement of areas around Crewe.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

This report https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-phase-2b-select-committee-crewe-to-manchester-understanding-the-ground-risk-across-the-cheshire-plain was commissioned and published as a comprehensive report into the ground risk north of Crewe across the Cheshire plain.

The Government does not expect to publish any further information.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government who will be the promoter of the Crewe to Manchester section of High Speed Rail; and whether they intend to let contracts on a cost-plus basis in a similar way to those let for Phase 1.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

HS2 Ltd continue to support the promotion of the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill which will be adapted to deliver only the section of route necessary for Northern Powerhouse Rail. No decisions have been taken on the long-term delivery strategy on contracting choices for the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme at this stage.

Our long-term ambition is to improve capacity and connectivity between Birmingham and Manchester with a new rail line. This will not be a reinstatement of HS2 and no decisions have been taken on the exact specification, route or the approach to implementing or contracting the project.

We will learn lessons from the implementation of HS2 to take the time necessary to undertake the development work to underpin these decisions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the mayors of Liverpool, Manchester and areas east of the Pennines have approved the route of High Speed Rail Phase 2b.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The government is taking forward the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill to deliver the Northern Powerhouse Rail route into Manchester via Manchester Airport. We have not reversed the previous government’s decision to cancel HS2 Phase 2 and will adapt the bill to deliver only the section of route necessary for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

The Government engaged closely with Mayors across the North of England during the development of the Northern Growth Strategy. Compact agreements with each Mayoral Combined Authority show the support for the Programme and the approach and are available online within the Rail Network Correspondence section of the Government's website.

We will continue to work in close collaboration with Mayors and partners across the North throughout the development and delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the proposal published by Chris Gibb, HS2 – Getting the job done… a new approach in May 2024, and (1) whether any such assessment compared capacity and journey times with HS2 Limited’s latest plans, (2) whether it outlined how they will consider forecasted demand in the 2040s, and (3) what assumptions they made on pricing and compulsory reservation strategy and their role in managing unconstrained demand.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Aspects of the proposal have been analysed for their technical feasibility and how they would support passengers on HS2 in the long term. The Department is working with industry on potential interventions to further improve journeys for Northwest passengers when high-speed services operate on the West Coast Mainline.

In addition, the Northern Growth Strategy announcement of January 2026 set out the Government’s intention to ultimately deliver a full North-South new line between Birmingham and Manchester. This will enable the Government to safeguard future growth for the long term by ensuring the West Coast Main Line corridor offers sufficient capacity and good connectivity.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the exact High Speed Rail Phase 2b Crewe to Manchester route, and connections to other rail projects in the area.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The route of the original Phase 2b scheme can be found in the Online Government Collection titled: HS2 Phase 2b: Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds.

The government will adapt the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill to deliver only the section of route necessary for Northern Powerhouse Rail. Following the Instruction Motion passed in the House of Commons in May 2024, the Bill will be truncated at a point in the vicinity of the Parish of Millington and Rostherne. The Government will set out further details when the Hybrid Bill Select Committee recommences.

Found: and AI Tuesday 19 May 2026 11.30 am Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Berkeley

Found: and AI Tuesday 19 May 2026 10.15 am Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Berkeley

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