00:01Birmingham's HS2 station is already taking shape at Curzon Street, with the London route well under construction.
00:09But an old question has returned. Should the line keep going north to Manchester?
00:14Andy Burnham has reportedly said he would revive that scrapped northern leg if he became Prime Minister.
00:22That matters here because Birmingham was never meant to be the final stop of a standalone railway.
00:28HS2 was planned as part of a wider network linking major regional cities, easing pressure on existing lines and creating
00:37more room for passengers and freight.
00:39The Manchester leg was cancelled by Rishi Sunak, former Prime Minister, in 2023 after rising costs and delays.
00:48Supporters say leaving the project at Birmingham weakens the economic case and misses the chance to improve links between the
00:56Midlands and the North.
00:58Former Rail Minister Hugh Merriman has welcomed Burnham's comments, saying the need for a new Birmingham to Manchester route is
01:05still pressing.
01:06Burnham argues better rail infrastructure could support growth and says land value increases could help pay for major schemes.
01:14But critics still call HS2 wasteful and ministers have not confirmed a route, budget or delivery date for any replacement.
01:22The issue for the West Midlands is whether it remains properly connected northwards in future years.
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