photo: HS2/BREAKING: HS2's Birmingham-Manchester Leg Cancelled, UK Eyes Enhanced Northern and Midlands Connectivity
The United Kingdom's Prime Minister, Mr Rishi Sunak, announced on October 4, the cancellation of the Birmingham-Manchester section of the HS2 high-speed rail project. Addressing the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Sunak cited ballooning costs and changing travel patterns, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the driving factors behind the decision. Instead of a north-to-south focus that predominantly connected major cities to London, Sunak advocated for an east-to-west emphasis that prioritizes connections between towns and cities in the north and the Midlands.
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At a press conference held directly at the railway station in Čierna nad Tisou – also a transshipment point for goods between Ukraine and…
Recent shifts in rail passenger numbers and travel habits have influenced the government's direction. Though the HS2 project was forecasted to deliver GBP 2.30 in taxpayer benefits for every GBP 1 spent, recalibrations, including the previous decision to scrap the eastern leg to Leeds, have indicated that benefits could plummet to just GBP 0.80 for each pound spent. While HS2 was underpinned by certain assumptions, the aftermath of the pandemic has seen rail business travel halved from 2019 levels, with buses taking the lion's share of public transport journeys. Despite this, the Railway Industry Association has presented data showing that rail passenger numbers are surging, surpassing their 2019 levels on multiple occasions in April 2023.
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Traveling by train has become increasingly popular. In Vorarlberg, a growing number of people are choosing this environmentally-friendly mode of transportation,…
Reallocating the funds originally intended for the HS2 extension, the UK government now plans to launch "Network North." This GBP 36 billion venture aims to bolster connectivity across northern England and the Midlands. Focusing on reducing travel time, increasing rail capacity, and ensuring more frequent, dependable services, the project addresses the issue that over 4 million people in northern England cities can't currently access their city centers within half an hour using public transport. Among the numerous investments, the initiative will see GBP 19.8 billion pumped into northern England, which will cater to both rail and road projects, and an additional GBP 12 billion will be directed to improving the Manchester-Liverpool connections. Furthermore, the Midlands will see a GBP 9.6 billion reinvestment, which encompasses the Midlands Rail Hub program, aiming to connect over 50 stations and benefit over 7 million people.
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Russian Post, in collaboration with Russian Railways, launched a high-speed container train test run, charting the Moscow–Novorossiysk–Moscow route.…
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