FORGET the ambitions to create “Manpool” as a way of turbo-charging the economy of the North West.
A new coupling was announced today - Manchester-Leeds – a powerhouse centred on the two de-facto capitals of northern England.
Liverpool and its far-flung counter-port to the east, Hull, run the very real risk of being literally edged out.
Nevertheless, Merseyside political leaders today hailed proposals for the so-called HS3 rail link as the realisation of Liverpool city region’s dreams of competing with London and the South East.
In his report, HS2 boss Sir David Higgins reaffirms the original proposals for Phase Two of the £50bn-plus North-South rail link to divide in a Y shape at Birmingham, providing 250mph trains to Manchester and Leeds. Meanwhile, trains from Liverpool to London will chug along the slower West Coast line, picking up HS2 at Crewe.
Speaking in, yes, Leeds, Sir David said the additional east-west improvement (HS3) could directly link the two big northern cities, cutting journey times between the two from 48 minutes to 26 minutes.
It could involve a doubling of trains per hour, with either a new high-speed track and tunnel under the Pennines, or an upgrade to the existing line.
Just as London/South East dominates everything in Southern England, the LeedsMans hub would become the beating heart of the North.
"So in this competitive world access to skilled people is crucial for cities to compete and a good, reliable, fast rail service will improve that."
Maybe Liverpool would be wise to quickly sign a twinning’ agreement with Hull and join forces to ensure the two key northern sea ports are not left behind.
It was the merchants of Liverpool who, in 1830, had the business sense to create the world’s first inter-city rail link between Liverpool and Manchester. Even earlier, in the 1700s, the need for cross country connectivity was realised with the building of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
The spirits that created both of those major transport innovations, with Liverpool at the centre of gravity, are needed now in the 21st century.
The danger is there will be a northern "premier league" with just two members and a lower division comprising everywhere else.
Indeed Wigan, where HS3 is proposed to join the Scotland-bound North West line, would have the edge over Liverpool as things stand. There is even talk today of a phase three to HS2, with the high speed link going beyond Wigan towards Preston and Scotland. Wigan is part of Greater Manchester, with Manchester’s dynamic duo Sir Richard Leese and Sir Howard Bernstein in the driving seat of what is a runaway success train.
While the political leaders in the North West are welcoming today’s news, what they should really be saying – loudly – is that a Leeds-Manchester axis is unacceptable, demanding work on better west-east links must start simultaneously at Liverpool and Hull.
They’ll cite the electrification of that 1830 line between Liverpool and Manchester as evidence Merseyside has not been left out. But the mood music is very much rooted in cross-Pennine links between Manchester and Leeds and North-South links, also centred on Manchester and Leeds.
The rest, including Liverpool, will be accidental beneficiaries. And although the city regions spanning east to west will be encouraged to speak with one voice, those on the periphery will need to shout with a louder voice to be heard.
