WGPlus (Archive)

Forget HS2; HS3 would be better value and it would help restore the North/South balance

London will see £1,500 more in transport spending per person than the North over the coming years, the latest analysis from leading think-tank IPPR North reveals.

  • IPPR North annual analysis shows Yorkshire and the Humber will get £190 per head, North East £220, North West £680 and London £1,940 per head for transport from 2016/17 onwards.
  • More than money – Transport for the North should get TfL investment powers, report argues.
  • ‘Northern Infrastructure Bonds’ suggested to fund ‘HS3’ linking North’s great cities and other key projects.
  • East-west crossing “vital” as we leave the EU – northern prosperity is national prosperity, and the North's £300bn economy key to UK's future.​
IPPR North's report Paying for Our Progress finds an east-west ‘HS3’ – also known as ‘Northern Powerhouse rail’ or ‘Crossrail for the North’ – is key to rebalancing the UK economy post-Brexit and in creating a country that works ‘for everyone’.
Researched Links:

IPPR:  New transport figures reveal London gets £1,500 per head more than the North – but North West powerhouse ‘catching-up’ ~ Instead of imposing the controversial, noisy & dubiously beneficial HS2 on the Shires, why not start with the ‘urgently needed’ HS3 & other road / rail improvements in the North ~ This ‘Train’ looks like it might leave the platform next year ~ DfT:  Full speed ahead as HS2 gets Royal Assent
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