Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their target dates for the completion of (1) HS2 phases 2A and 2B, and (2) the opening of high speed services on a new railway line between Manchester and Leeds.

The opening of HS2 Phase One and Phase 2a will be aligned, with services expected to start between Old Oak Common, Birmingham and Crewe between 2029 and 2033. We expect services to start running from Euston between 2031 and 2036.

High speed services between London and Manchester and Leeds would then expect to start between 2036 and 2040. However, the recently announced integrated rail plan is designed to explore how the benefits could be delivered more quickly and cost effectively.

The opening date of the Manchester to Leeds line is not yet determined and will be assessed over the next year, as part of the Integrated Rail Plan and once route options have been finalised.