Reform ‘Would Scrap’ High-Speed Northern Rail Line
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
A Reform UK government would scrap plans to build the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) link, its deputy leader has said.
These two paragraphs add extra details.
In a report to the right-leaning Policy Exchange think tank, Richard Tice said companies considering bidding for contracts to build east-to-west high-speed rail links should “not bother”.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham rejected Tice’s comments and suggested Reform UK wanted a “second-class railway” for the north of England.
As I showed in I’ve Just Glimpsed The Future Of Train Travel Across The North Of England And I Like It, much of Northern Powerhouse Rail is complete or under construction to the East of Manchester and the only section of Northern Powerhouse Rail to be announced, designed and constructed is between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester via Manchester Airport. I discussed this section in Completing Northern Powerhouse Rail.
I also suspect that Reform UK, is the only party, that is against the building of Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Conclusion
How do you scrap a railway, that is half complete and only needs about twenty miles of new track for completion?
The Anonymous Widower 
Reform will never be in government.
Comment by John | September 10, 2025 |
I tend to agree with you because if it’s handled right, we’re going to be selling so many TWhs of electricity and hydrogen to the Germans.
See.
https://anonw.com/2025/09/09/the-monster-that-is-aquaventus-is-waking-up/
Comment by AnonW | September 11, 2025 |
How do you scrap a railway, that is half complete and only needs about twenty miles of new track for completion?
In the words of my metalwork teacher at Minchenden: ‘I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who.’
The question is not ‘how do you scrap…’ [Ask Rishi how simply yet foolishly that can be done] but ask ‘Why would you!’
Comment by PJS | September 11, 2025 |
It just shows how daft Reform is! If you put lipstick on a fascist, they’re still a fascist.
Comment by AnonW | September 11, 2025 |
In case the majority of the population will decide to elect Reform UK next time, this party will then do what they say today. But nobody will and can force the people to do so. It would be their voluntary decision. If Reform UK will sit in no. 10 after the elections, UK will have another big problem, not only with railways. Future will tell.
Comment by Wolfgang Maresch | September 11, 2025 |