Reviving Britain's Rail Legacy: Burnham Advocates for the Northern Arc Initiative
In the UK, Greater Manchester’s mayor, Andy Burnham, is advocating for a new rail initiative called the ‘Northern Arc’ to help revitalize Britain’s railway reputation. He believes this could be a fresh start after the controversies surrounding High Speed 2 (HS2).
During his speech at the High Speed Rail Group conference in Birmingham on May 7, Burnham emphasized that local governance is crucial for executing meaningful rail projects over the next quarter-century.the idea of a Northern Arc was initially proposed by him and Steve Rotheram, his counterpart from Liverpool, during discussions with Treasury officials on May 1.
This aspiring plan aims to enhance rail connections primarily between liverpool and Manchester as well as birmingham and Manchester while also benefiting regions like Yorkshire, northeast England, and north Wales.
The power of Local Leadership
Reflecting on a decade since Greater Manchester secured its devolution deal with the government, Burnham noted that it has become one of Britain’s fastest-growing city regions. However, he expressed concern over the previous government’s abrupt cancellation of HS2 phases in October 2023 which jeopardized this growth trajectory. “The reasoning behind their decision remains unclear,” he remarked.
Burnham pointed out that HS2’s experience highlighted how ineffective top-down planning can be for major infrastructure projects. He advocates for a grassroots approach led by local authorities moving forward.
The mayor supports two key rail initiatives aimed at improving connectivity across north-south and east-west routes through Manchester. One proposal involves creating an additional line between Liverpool and Manchester to complement existing routes while serving Warrington and even connecting to Manchester Airport—utilizing corridors earmarked for HS2’s Phase 2b plans. With Warrington soon gaining its own elected mayoralty like its neighboring cities, there are exciting prospects ahead following recent urban redevelopment opportunities in areas like Bank Quay station.
Modernizing Infrastructure
As construction progresses on HS2 Phase I alongside upgrades to TransPennine routes, Burnham stressed that immediate action is necessary to tackle persistent capacity issues within central Manchester’s railway system. “We can’t let our rapidly growing city remain stuck with outdated Victorian infrastructure,” he insisted.
Ahead of June’s Spending Review declaration from the government, he urged them not only to recognize what northern England has accomplished but also to provide essential support for modern heavy rail infrastructure growth: “We’re facing challenges where trains from upgraded lines will converge onto an antiquated system; we need contemporary solutions.”
A New Vision
Burnham proposes constructing new line segments incrementally between Birmingham and Manchester as cost-effective alternatives rather than relying solely on grandiose plans like HS2—a strategy already seen with successful bypasses added along existing lines such as those around Stafford back in ’16.
The consensus among industry experts suggests limited funding commitments will emerge from upcoming reviews beyond already established projects such as East West Rail linking Oxford with Cambridge; however,Burnham remains optimistic about exploring choice financing methods: “Let’s consider land value capture or leveraging models like Mayoral Development corporations,” he suggested during his address at HSRG events—emphasizing urgency given ongoing delays associated with HS2 developments.
Aiming High Again
Citing concerns about cyclical booms affecting supply chains within UK rail construction sectors,Burnham called out for coherent transport strategies outlined clearly within forthcoming Infrastructure Bills.”Our investment framework has been flawed over decades,”he stated wryly suggesting perhaps it was time re-evaluate traditional capital spending guidelines laid out by Treasury documents known colloquially as ‘Green Book’.
If managed locally through stable project pipelines,Burnham believes Britain could reclaim its status as an international leader in railway innovation.”Teams currently engaged on initiatives such as East West Rail shoudl transition smoothly into building vital links like Liverpool-Manchester Railway or Staffordshire Connectors,”he concluded firmly urging stakeholders towards decisive shifts away from past models exemplified by HS2 narratives.
Content Original Link:
" target="_blank">
