Unions call scrapping of Eastern HS2 leg the “great northern rail betrayal"
RMT have called it a "betrayal of our commitment to fight climate change"
Last updated 17th Nov 2021
Rail Union RMT have described the Government’s anticipated U-turn on their promises to build the vital Eastern leg of the HS2 project as an “great northern rail betrayal".
The union has described the decision as 'one that tears up their levelling up agenda and climate change commitments following the conclusion of the COP26 climate talks'.
The announcement of the HS2 leg and of Northern Powerhouse Rail is expected tomorrow as the Government publish their Integrated Rail Plan, and word of the decision has angered residents all across the region.
It is expected that the Government will completely scrap he vital Eastern Leg of the HS2 project and that a new trans-Pennine line between Manchester and Leeds, a key element of Northern Powerhouse Rail, will also not be built.
"Kick in the teeth for future generations"
Commenting on these reports RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:
“No wonder this announcement is being made after COP26 as the cancelling of the Eastern leg of the HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail projects will become known as the great northern rail betrayal and a betrayal of our commitment to fight climate change.
“Cancelling these absolutely vital rail projects is not just a kick in the teeth for the people of the North that have been promised mass rail investment for decades, whilst seeing very little delivered, but also for future generations of this entire country that are relying on our political leaders to make the decisions and commit the investment we need in rail and public transport to stop the worst impacts of climate change.
“Our climate and communities cannot afford false political choices between different rail projects when what we need is all these projects to go ahead and a historic mass investment in our railways that gets people out of cars and trains and onto and public transport but instead we get more Tory austerity, cut backs and attacks on rail workers jobs and rail services.
“Public transport investment pays for itself through the economic benefits it brings and it’s time to the government took a proper long term approach that reflects that fact.”
It was announced today that 400 train stations across the north and Midlands will instead get contactless 'tap-in and tap-out' ticketing systems introduced, as part of a £360m investment 'to radically reform and overhaul rail passengers’ experience of fares, ticketing and retailing'.