Since the announcements of the high-speed rail network – HS2 – it has been surrounded by controversy.
From its increasing costs, which are now estimated at £55bn, to concerns over potential negative impacts on the Welsh economy, it has not always been the most popular of plans.
Add to this the expected completion date – 2026 for the first phase, alone – and concern about how many homes will need to be demolished to make way for this new rail system, and many have questioned the government’s plans.
However, despite this, it seems the HS2 line could offer benefits to Warrington businesses. But not until the second phase.
HS2 Phase 2
The first stage, phase 1 will connect London to Birmingham, reducing the journey time to 49 minutes, from 1 hour and 21 minutes. While phase 2 outlines plans to connect the line to Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield.
Although work on this second phase is not expected to begin until the next decade – projected completion is 2033 – with a stop in Warrington, it could help local businesses. But why is this?
Shorter Commutes
One of the most obvious benefits is access to more talent. With faster and more direct routes, commutes will be quicker. This means businesses will be able to attract employees from a larger geographical area, helping to boost their workforce.
However, there are other benefits, too. Arguably, the largest will be logistics.
Delivery Services
There are two main benefits here: more rail freight and less traffic.
With the first, as more passenger services move from current lines to the new HS2 routes, there will be less commuter trains using old routes. This means more rail freight will be able to access these railways, allowing more items to be shipped via rail.
In the case of the second, increases in rail freight could lead to a reduction in HGVs. This could reduce congestion on motorways, reducing traffic and improving conditions.
Both benefits could boost delivery times and potentially reduce shipping prices (due to lower fuel and vehicle costs). They could also help local businesses to expand beyond Warrington, providing quicker and more direct routes for logistics companies, like Parcel2Go.
Final Thoughts
Although the HS2 has been somewhat unpopular, in addition to benefiting commuters, it could offer real advantages to businesses. This is particularly true for local companies, who could benefit from faster delivery services, helping them to grow and expand.
Although this will not be realised for over a decade, it could have many benefits for entrepreneurs and businesses of the future.
