HS2 rail reset on the scrapped northern leg north of the West Midlands
Ministers are preparing to announce plans for a new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester, reviving a route previously scrapped under the HS2 programme, according to reports.
The proposed line would form part of a wider overhaul of rail infrastructure across the north of England, with the government expected to confirm renewed backing for Northern Powerhouse Rail. However, construction of the Birmingham to Manchester link is unlikely to begin before the mid-2040s.
New Birmingham to Manchester line would follow completion of Northern Powerhouse Rail upgrades
Officials briefed on the plans said the government intends to commit to a new north-south connection only after Northern Powerhouse Rail is delivered. This would pause the planned sale of land originally safeguarded for HS2 and keep open the possibility of future construction.
The original HS2 scheme was designed as a Y-shaped network running from London to Birmingham and then branching to Manchester and Leeds. That vision was progressively dismantled by previous Conservative governments.
Previous cancellations left West Coast Main Line capacity problems unresolved
The eastern leg to Leeds was cancelled in 2021 under Boris Johnson, followed by the Manchester leg being dropped in 2023 by Rishi Sunak. The decision triggered anger across the north and left the West Coast Main Line facing continued congestion without a long-term solution.
Labour cautious on costs as Northern Powerhouse Rail takes priority
Since taking office in 2024, Labour has focused on reviving Northern Powerhouse Rail rather than immediately replacing cancelled HS2 sections. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to confirm funding commitments for the East-West scheme, though no detailed costs or specifications for the Birmingham to Manchester line are expected at this stage.
West Midlands and Greater Manchester leaders have previously explored public-private partnership options to help deliver the project.
