Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any representations about prioritising HS3 over HS2.

There is no either / or choice between HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR). Both projects have the potential to be transformative for the North. Whilst Transport for the North’s plans for NPR are at an earlier stage of development, they are being designed to complement HS2 and transform connectivity across the north of England.

We are currently consulting on proposals to include passive provision for two future junctions that would one day allow NPR trains to use the HS2 route into Manchester and vice versa. These proposals have been developed with Transport for the North, and, in the future, could allow a potential new route between Manchester and Liverpool that could also be used for services between London and Liverpool.