The cancellation of other HS2 phases will inevitably result in some design changes to Phase 1. HS2 Ltd told us that the top of its list is the implications for how HS2 trains will join the West Coast Main Line. HS2 trains would have joined the line north of Manchester if Phase 2a were being built. But in order to travel on HS2 trains through to Manchester, Liverpool and Scotland, HS2 trains will now need to join it at Handsacre, which is near Lichfield.35 Once the HS2 trains have joined the W...

The cancellation of other HS2 phases will inevitably result in some design changes to Phase 1. HS2 Ltd told us that the top of its list is the implications for how HS2 trains will join the West Coast Main Line. HS2 trains would have joined the line north of Manchester if Phase 2a were being built. But in order to travel on HS2 trains through to Manchester, Liverpool and Scotland, HS2 trains will now need to join it at Handsacre, which is near Lichfield.35 Once the HS2 trains have joined the West Coast Main Line they will be limited to that line speed, rather than able to travel at faster HS2 line speeds, and likely be slower than the existing Type: conclusion | Number: 17 | Response status: accepted Government response: 3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2024 3.2 The government is progressing its plan to implement amendments to Phase 1 of the HS2 programme, and to progress the closedown of the remaining phases. 3.3 The de