The National Audit Office recently released a report criticizing the Conservative government’s mismanagement of the HS2 project, highlighting how scrapping the northern leg could reduce capacity between Birmingham and Manchester. In response, a Labour-commissioned rail and urban transport review led by Juergen Maier calls for a radical strategy to prioritize public transport for economic growth, environmental goals, and social wellbeing. The review recommends doubling rail usage, completing the “northern powerhouse” rail projects, and upgrading key rail lines like the west coast mainline and east coast mainline.
The review also emphasizes the need for a shift in mindset in Westminster to view public transport funding as an investment in UK productivity. Labour’s transport minister, Louise Haigh, stresses the importance of investing in public transport for economic growth and achieving net zero targets. To address years of neglect and mismanagement, long-term funding and empowering local authorities are crucial. Ultimately, trains, buses, and trams should be central to a green growth strategy to bring the UK’s transport system up to par with its European counterparts.
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