High Speed UK

The viable alternative to HS2

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

These are the ever-spiralling costs of the entire #HS2 project. £88 billion (estimated back in 2019) was already 4 times the size of the annual financial black hole facing @RachelReevesMP. With inflation that’s probably nearer 5 times.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

People are now pressing Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reinstate all the sections of #HS2 that were cancelled by the previous Government. Don’t come to #HSUK for sophisticated financial analysis – but this can only make @RachelReevesMP’s HS2 problems even greater.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

#HS2 – the next financial black hole facing Chancellor @RachelReevesMP.
But she has an alternative – it’s #HSUK and Network North.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

And here once more is the #HSUK Network North connectivity map for New Pudsey, and all the other new suburban stations encompassed within @RachelReevesMP’s Leeds West and Pudsey constituency. Can @TracyBrabin’s West Yorkshire Mass Transit possibly match this?

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

This is @RachelReevesMP’s Leeds West and Pudsey constituency, covering most of the suburban area between Leeds and Bradford. This is the corridor to be served by @TracyBrabin’s West Yorkshire Mass Transit’s ‘Bradford Line’. But #HSUK and Network North do it far better!!

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

30th October Budget Day is fast approaching, so it’s time to focus on @RachelReevesMP – not only Chancellor of the Exchequer but also MP for Leeds West and Pudsey. She wants to do right both for the nation and for her constituency. #HSUK and Network North show the way!!

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

And finally Leeds, historic hub of the West Yorkshire rail network. It’s always enjoyed the region’s best rail connectivity, and this will continue with #HSUK and Network North. But the transformation in smaller communities’ rail links is a very positive indicator of Levelling-up

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

Now for Bradford, perhaps the greatest beneficiary of the #HSUK Network North fully integrated design philosophy, with local transformed rail links extending across the entire West Yorkshire region. Bradford MDC Leader Councillor @SHinchcliffe, please take note.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

The Wharfedale Line, extending beyond Guiseley to Burley and Ilkley, is another major beneficiary of the #HSUK Network North proposals for a cross-Bradford rail link, connecting the networks to the north and south of the city. This opens up the entire West Yorkshire network.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

Despite high quality local rail links, the connectivity of Aire Valley communities is hugely restricted by congestion at Leeds, and by the lack of rail links across Bradford, and between Skipton and Colne in East Lancashire. #HSUK Network North resolves all these issues.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

We’ve already posted our diagram for Halifax, but – in a spirit of continuing QA – we’ve noticed that we’ve not fully illustrated direct links from Halifax to the east of Leeds. All this extra connectivity stems from the #HSUK Network North scheme to transform links across Leeds

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

Next up is Huddersfield, a key TPML community. It sits on the edge of 3 key Northern networks – West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire – so this diagram can only tell part of the story. But as ever, connectivity is transformed with #HSUK and Network North.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

Now we’re looking at Pontefract and other ‘Five Towns’ communities to the south-east of Leeds. Historically very poorly linked by rail, their connectivity will be transformed by #HSUK and Network North. Again, a crucial matter for West Yorkshire Mayor @TracyBrabin to note.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

Now we’re looking at #HSUK Network North services in east Leeds, potentially extending onto a new branch accessing communities along the new A6120 orbital. And the key question is: can Mayor @TracyBrabin deliver better connectivity with her West Yorkshire Mass Transit?

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

With our new colour scheme, we refocus upon the Leeds-New Pudsey-Bradford corridor, selected by West Yorkshire Combined Authority for development as an interurban mass transit route. Purple lines show #HSUK Network North services extending across West Yorkshire from New Pudsey.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

Now for Halifax, principal community of Calderdale and a key calling point for transpennine Network North services via Bradford. This diagram shows local Calder Valley services also routed via #HSUK’s new cross-Bradford link and onwards to Leeds (and beyond) via the Aire Valley.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

Next up is Wakefield, where the #HSUK / Network North fully exploits the city’s excellent rail connectivity, with improved links to the Five Towns and new direct links to Bradford and the Aire Valley. Why can’t WYCA’s official Mass Transit scheme offer the same transformation?

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

Now for the Spen Valley towns of Cleckheaton, Liversedge and Heckmondwike, long forgotten by the rail network, but restored under the #HSUK / Network North initiative. This diagram shows potential suburban services radiating across West Yorkshire – mass transit in action!!

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

We’ve gone for the ‘Wimbledon Look’, green and purple, and we’ve shown #HSUK / Network North direct links in purple. First up for the new colour scheme is Dewsbury. Served by the existing Dewsbury station, and the new Dewsbury Interchange, the town’s connectivity is transformed.

[High Speed UK @HighSpeedUK]

This diagram shows #HSUK Network North routes extending beyond the Leeds-New Pudsey-Bradford corridor to neighbouring communities to east and west, north and south. This is what a properly connected mass transit system actually looks like!!