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Sure but it’s the most complicated part, why do that bit first? Prove everything with Leeds - Manchester first, or an even shorter route...

Symbiote 7y ago
London to Birmingham will have more usage, so more revenue from tickets. The technology doesn't need proving, plenty is built already.
kingosticks 7y ago
The extra capacity is most urgently required in and around London. The scheme needs to deliver the relief in these areas ASAP, I don't think there's much to prove outside of that so I don't think doing other sections first makes sense. Edit, more background on the extra capacity: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2019/08/20/taking-a-look-at-hs2s-huge-old-oak-common-station/ https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2019/08/20/taking-a-look-at...
bobthepanda 7y ago
Leeds and Manchester are separated by the Pennines, which are a challenging geography to build through. The capacity issue is not between cities in the north, anyways; the capacity issue is towards London.
- iso947 7y ago
  There is massive capacity problems in Manchester and Leeds and indeed the entire liverpool-Leeds corridor NPR is sorely needed for that. There’s also big capacity issues from Manchester to Stockport and Wolves-Coventry which HS2 tackles directly (as well as rugby-London) There’s a good argument that rather than the east side of the pennies, driving HS2 on to Leeds from Manchester, and adding a branch to Liverpool, would give better value for money. I don’t know enough about the capacity issues from Leeds to Wakefield and Doncaster to comment on that side.
- gorgoiler 7y ago
  Very interesting. If you had a link to some good capacity information, that would also be really good to read.
  - UglyToad 7y ago
    This doesn't go into much numerical information which is buried in reports but it's a good high level summary https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hs2-logistics-financial-benefit-controversy-a8937936.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hs2-logistic...

Symbiote 7y ago

London to Birmingham will have more usage, so more revenue from tickets. The technology doesn't need proving, plenty is built already.

kingosticks 7y ago

The extra capacity is most urgently required in and around London. The scheme needs to deliver the relief in these areas ASAP, I don't think there's much to prove outside of that so I don't think doing other sections first makes sense. Edit, more background on the extra capacity: https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2019/08/20/taking-a-look-at-hs2s-huge-old-oak-common-station/ https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2019/08/20/taking-a-look-at...

bobthepanda 7y ago

Leeds and Manchester are separated by the Pennines, which are a challenging geography to build through. The capacity issue is not between cities in the north, anyways; the capacity issue is towards London.

iso947 7y ago
There is massive capacity problems in Manchester and Leeds and indeed the entire liverpool-Leeds corridor NPR is sorely needed for that. There’s also big capacity issues from Manchester to Stockport and Wolves-Coventry which HS2 tackles directly (as well as rugby-London) There’s a good argument that rather than the east side of the pennies, driving HS2 on to Leeds from Manchester, and adding a branch to Liverpool, would give better value for money. I don’t know enough about the capacity issues from Leeds to Wakefield and Doncaster to comment on that side.
gorgoiler 7y ago
Very interesting. If you had a link to some good capacity information, that would also be really good to read.
- UglyToad 7y ago
  This doesn't go into much numerical information which is buried in reports but it's a good high level summary https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hs2-logistics-financial-benefit-controversy-a8937936.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hs2-logistic...