At an event today, 3rd July, business and political leaders from throughout the East Midlands have gathered in Derby to launch a report titled “Full speed ahead: bringing high-speed rail to the East Midlands” that sets out an overwhelming case for the East Midlands to have high-speed rail.
Among those attending the launch which is being jointly hosted by Midlands Connect and Transport for the East Midlands are HS2 and Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP, who will be making a keynote speech, business chiefs, and senior politicians including Sir Peter Soulsby, Cllr Ben Bradley MP, Amanda Solloway MP and Toby Perkins MP.
The report outlines the benefits that will accrue from extending HS2 to the East Midlands and Sheffield as proposed in the Government's Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (IRP).
When integrated with other projects such as the Midlands Rail Hub and electrification of the Midland Main Line, extending HS2 to the East Midlands will bring the region's cities and towns closer to each other and to larger centres such as London and Birmingham.
Once HS2 is complete, an extra half-million people will be within 90 minutes by rail from Derby and an additional 600,000 people within 90 minutes of Chesterfield.
This will result in increased job opportunities for East Midlands residents and more trade for local businesses.
At the moment, Nottingham, Derby and Chesterfield can access an economy of around £250 million within 90 minutes by rail, but HS2 will increase that to over £550 million.
Figures in the report show that HS2 Nottingham will benefit from having nearly double the number of jobs in high-value, rail-linked sectors within an hour by rail, and nearly four times the number of jobs within two hours.
The extension of HS2 will result in 74 stations throughout the East Midlands benefitting from improved journey times to and from London and Birmingham.
The reduced journey times will shift the location of major urban areas closer to the East Midlands. London will effectively move 60 miles north to Northamptonshire (relative to Derby, Chesterfield and Nottingham), whilst Birmingham will move 30 miles northeast to between Derby and Loughborough (relative to Nottingham).
These quicker journey times will benefit residents travelling to London for work, business or leisure.
Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect commented: “It's great to be here in Derby today, highlighting the importance of high-speed rail for this region. The East Midlands is an area so poorly served by rail at the moment; with these proposals in place connections from North to South, and East to West, will be quicker and easier.
“The case for delivering HS2 from Birmingham to the East Midlands is overwhelming.”
Sir Peter Soulsby, Chair of Transport for East Midlands added: “The East Midlands boasts a resilient and thriving economy which is well placed to reap the benefits of major rail investment.
“HS2 to the East Midlands is key priority for TfEM and will transform links to Birmingham and London.
“With direct HS2 services to Nottingham, Derby and Chesterfield stations, coupled with the electrification of the Midland Main Line, travel times across the region will be significantly reduced and capacity enhanced.”
Unfortunately the case isn’t overwhelming, as will be shown by Curzon Street at Birmingham, the biggest problem with HS2 is it doesn’t actually have a station at Birmingham New Street, no station on the plans for Derby or Nottingham – very limited number will change from a Pendolino arriving in New Street to go to Curzon Street.
Money would be so much spent on the Dawlish bypass connecting Oakhapton with Plymouth, and re-instate Matlock to Buxton, Marylebone Station – Leicester, Leicester – Burton-upon-Trent – these would bring much more footfall onto the railway network.
Some people are still obsessed with bringing HS2 to The East Midlands but coming via Birmingham is just adding miles to the journey (and it takes 35 minutes to get from Toton to Nottingham on the tram).
It makes far more sense to upgrade the existing Midland Main Line because it already has stations where people actually want to get on and off. The electrification programme is advancing north and some sections of the route which had four tracks at one time could have these reinstated – the land is still there.
A faster line from Sheffield to Leeds would also be helpful.