HS2 route to include new Leeds station

Author: Elizabeth Smythe - 28 January 2013

Plans for the 'preferred' HS2 route encompass a new station in Leeds, examiner.co.uk reports.

The Department for Transport has revealed that the route for phase two of the High Speed rail network is likely to form a Y-shape, north of Birmingham, forking towards Manchester Piccadilly on one side and Leeds on the other.

The news, which naturally will have been met with some opposition, is aimed at kick-starting the economy, through enabling easier links between the south and north. It should also generate around 100,000 jobs.

In addition to the line itself, Leeds is to receive a new station. One of the five stops on the proposed route is New Lane in the South Bank area of the city. A covered walkway will connect to the station, from which passengers will be able to reach Birmingham in less than an hour - half the time that it takes currently.

It will take just one hour and 22 minutes to reach London Euston, shaving almost an hour of the existing journey time, birminghampost.net writes. 

Local councillors have praised the route, saying that the HS2 will have a positive impact on residents and the local economy. In particular, councillor Mehboob Khan emphasised that nearby Huddersfield would benefit, with discussions already taking place regarding a ninth platform for Huddersfield Railway Station.

"Huddersfield is the second busiest railway station in West Yorkshire. It will bring transport investment, frequency of trains, reliability of trains quality of service," he said.