There is 'opportunity' in the wake of controversial HS2 scrapping, says Andy Burnham
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThe scrapping of HS2 has left Greater Manchester with an ‘opportunity’, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has told council bosses.
At the latest meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the borough’s council bosses heard how the billions leftover from the controversial scrapping of the northern leg of High Speed Rail 2 earlier this month could be used to fund improved services in the region.
Mr Burnham shared his hopes for a new railway line between Liverpool and Manchester as well as a new station at Manchester Airport and an underground station at Piccadilly. READ MORE: Section of Greater Manchester market suddenly shuts as 49 traders forced to move out READ MORE: Today's top Manchester Evening News stories “You will be aware of the very public debate (around HS2) and the manner in which the decisions were made which we don’t think were done in the right way at all,” Mr Burnham told Bury Town Hall. “We don’t consider it acceptable the way the city region was treated with that abrupt decision (to cancel the northern stretch of HS2). “There are opportunities that have arisen from what has been announced.
The 12bn for a new line between Liverpool and Manchester has given us a new role to shape that new line and its route. “At this stage we would keep our ambitions in place for a station at Manchester Airport and an underground station at Piccadilly.” Following the meeting on October 27 where the mayor shared ‘deep concerns’ about the conflict in the Middle East.
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