HS2 route to Yorkshire confirmed July 17, 2017

The Transport Secretary Chris Grayling on Monday July 17 confirmed the route of the Yorkshire section of HS2 - the Y-shaped high speed lines which will link the Midlands with London Euston with extensions to Manchester and to Leeds.

Mr Grayling said: "By building a whole new railway line for high-speed intercity connections, we will free up local services, meaning more comfort, more seats and more trains for passengers across the north and the midlands."

The plans retain some of the more controversial aspects of the 2016 HS2 rerouting in Yorkshire, including Yorkshire's only station directly on the new HS2 line being in Leeds.

It means passengers from other West Yorkshire towns and cities wanting to catch HS2 will have to join packed commuter trains or local services to travel north or east to Leeds rather than catching direct London trains or changing in places like Wakefield. It is not clear how the Government feels its plan will free-up local services.

Sheffield city planners saw a branch from HS2 being taken via conventional lines into Sheffield from south of Chesterfield rather than having an interchange at Meadowhall which would have provided easier connections for other towns.

The Yorkshire section of HS2 does, however, have lesser impact on Huddersfield than other places as from Huddersfield it is likely to be faster to change to HS2 at Manchester rather than Leeds.

The first section of the line will, of course, be started in London and trains are expected to be reaching Birmingham in about nine years time and Yorkshire by 2033.

More on HS2 in Yorkshire at  Yorkshire.guide.

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