The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) in the UK invited businesses, passengers, transport experts, and regional leaders to share their ideas for transforming the rail landscape of the north alongside the East and West Midlands and help create a lasting legacy from the construction of High Speed 2 (HS2). 

The Commission has launched a new call for evidence that kicks off its work on a Rail Needs Assessment covering large parts of England and stretching north to Scotland. This assessment will inform the government’s plans for an Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands and the north, by identifying the most effective scoping, phasing and sequencing of HS2 Phase 2b, Northern Powerhouse Rail, Midlands Rail Hub, and other proposed rail investments. 

The Commission’s independent assessment will consider how Phase 2b of HS2 – the lines running from Birmingham to Leeds via the East Midlands, and from Crewe to Manchester – will best be integrated with wider transport plans in the north and the Midlands, delivering benefits from those investments more quickly. It will also:  

• consider a way forward on scoping, phasing and sequencing delivery of HS2 Phase 2b, Northern Powerhouse Rail, Midlands Rail Hub and other proposed rail investments
• consider how best to deliver rail connectivity with Scotland. 

The call for evidence will help inform the evidence base, analysis and stakeholder engagement undertaken by the Commission during this exercise. The Commission will keep its approach to gathering evidence under review, recognizing the many challenges that stakeholders are currently facing. 

The call for evidence is set to close on 29 May 2020.