A HS2 supporters group, which includes the former leader of Trafford Council, has said the initiative is a ‘must have’ for Greater Manchester.


The Greater Manchester HS2 Communications Leadership Group, which is made up of business leaders and decision-makers from across Greater Manchester, made the comments at a HS2 launch event at Manchester Airport on July 17.
 

Thousands of ‘tickets to the future’ outlining the benefits of HS2 were also distributed across Manchester’s busiest stations, to coincide with the launch of the consultation process.
 

Susan Williams, of the North West Rail Campaign and former council leader, said: “The current railway is already creaking and with the extra demand we know is coming, links to London to for the North West will be clogged up in little over 10 years.


“The risk is that if we do nothing services from the North West will lose out as competition for timetable slots increases.


“If we want to secure extra capacity for our rail services then we must embrace the proposed high speed network as the only real alternative.”
 

Chair of the HS2 leadership group and vice-chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, John Brooks, said: “The launch of the consultation is an important milestone in moving towards the reality of a high speed future for the North West.
 

“The promise of HS2 goes beyond simply improving connections to major cities across the country; it is the key to unlocking the enormous potential our region has to offer, making it an attractive place to do business, live and visit.”