Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice has said a Reform government would scrap plans to build the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) east–west high-speed link across northern England, advising companies considering bids for contracts "not to bother."
Tice set out the position in a report to the Policy Exchange think tank, saying money earmarked for new high-speed links should be spent "on things the country needs more" and describing further commitments to such schemes as "insanity" in light of what he called "billions in overspending" on HS2.
The Policy Exchange report outlined alternative schemes, including a Manchester equivalent of London's Elizabeth Line, and warned that parts of NPR could be costly with relatively modest time savings. It estimated a new line between Liverpool and Manchester could cost about £30 billion and, because it would also serve Manchester Airport, might make the fastest journeys one minute longer than current fastest services of 34 minutes.
The report also argued the "crisis in HS2 is even worse than ministers admit," suggesting the true cost for the London–Birmingham section could be as much as 22% higher than figures presented to Parliament. HS2 Ltd rejected the assertions. A spokesperson said the company "does not recognise these claims" and defended the transparency and auditing of its accounts by the National Audit Office.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham criticised Tice's remarks and suggested Reform UK sought a "second-class railway" for the north. Burnham said he was "not surprised in the slightest" by the party's opposition, accusing Reform UK leaders of being "creatures of the London establishment" and arguing that other European countries link major cities with modern high-speed rail.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said the North had been left with "second-rate transport for too long, leaving communities cut off and holding back growth," and pointed to ongoing projects such as the Transpennine Route Upgrade as evidence of the government's commitment to faster and more reliable journeys. The department added it would set out its ambitions for Northern Powerhouse Rail in the near future.
Northern Powerhouse Rail was first proposed by former chancellor George Osborne in 2014 as part of a plan to improve east–west connections across northern England. The scheme was shelved under the Boris Johnson government. Labour has signalled it plans to announce a return of the project within the coming weeks, placing the issue at the centre of current transport and regional development debates.
Policy Exchange said its proposed alternatives would focus on targeted upgrades and urban rapid-transit-style projects rather than new high-speed lines. Tice framed that approach as a reallocation of funds away from large-scale rail projects considered risky because of cost and delay, citing HS2 as an example.
Transport projects in the north have long been debated by national and regional politicians, with proponents arguing improved links are essential to economic growth and critics pointing to cost overruns and long timetables. The dispute over NPR underlines broader tensions about infrastructure priorities, regional investment and the extent to which central government should fund large-scale rail projects.
HS2 Ltd reiterated its commitment to delivering the project to required standards and to transparent accounting, while local leaders and opposition politicians have continued to press for clarity on plans and timetables for the north. The debate is likely to intensify as parties set out their transport platforms ahead of forthcoming announcements and potential election campaigning.
