Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, says the government needs greater evidence on the feasibility of the HS2 rail development with questions raised over the costs. The review is to be chaired by Douglas Oakervee, who chaired HS2 Ltd and has worked alongside Boris Johnson when he was London mayor.
In a statement from Manchester Airport Group (MAG)
“The High Speed 2 line to Manchester will be a vital part of rebalancing the UK economy and creating better transport links to, from and across the North. “It is imperative that both HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail are delivered as quickly as possible and connected by a hub station at Manchester Airport to realise the full economic potential of both schemes.
“Connecting the country more effectively, both North-South and East-West, would drive economic growth across the UK, and do the most to rebalance our economy. “MAG would like see work on the northern leg of HS2 accelerated – and delivered in tandem with Northern Powerhouse Rail – to allow the benefits of better connectivity in the North to be felt much sooner. “We look forward to welcoming Douglas Oakervee and the review team to Manchester Airport to further discuss these issues.”