‘HS3’ to cut journey times between northern cities

A high-speed railway line between Leeds and Manchester - dubbed HS3 - has been fully endorsed by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Cameron joined Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin at today’s launch of HS2 Ltd Chairman Sir David Higgins’ second major report into progress on the project.

Higgins suggested that HS3 would be as important to the north of England as Crossrail is to London, although would only be one step in improving transport as a whole between Liverpool and Hull.

Journey times by rail between Leeds and Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield Meadowhall, York and Birmingham, and Nottingham and Birmingham could also be more than halved.

“Reducing the journey times between and within our cities isn’t just desirable for both passengers and freight, it is a strategic necessity,” said Higgins.

• For more on this story, see RAIL 761, published on November 12.