THE £32bn HS2 rail link must reach Liverpool, Commons watchdogs told ministers today.
Transport select committee chairman Louise Ellman said: “It is absolutely essential that the city benefits from high-speed rail.
“Anything less would be unacceptable.”
Her committee strongly backed the project aimed at speeding links between London and the North.
And it warned against halting the new line at Birmingham as demanded by HS2 critics, including Home Counties Tories whose constituencies would be affected by the works.
Ministers support an extension over 20 years with a Y line to Manchester and Leeds, but that has not been formally approved.
And Merseyside MPs want a commitment to a high-speed spur so that their constituents are not left out.
Mrs Ellman, MP for Riverside, said: “High speed rail may be a catalyst for economic growth, helping to rebalance the economy and bridge the North-South divide.
“But the government must do more to promote local and regional growth to ensure we get maximum economic benefit.”
She said that HS2 is affordable, costing around £2bon a year for 17 years.
But she said there remain “concerns” that under the current plan the line will not reach the key northern cities for 20 years.
She added: “The government should also look at options to build southwards from the North and link to other lines such as the Midlands main line.
“We see no reason why the Scottish government should not begin work on a Scottish high-speed line, to connect with the English network in due course.”
Her committee’s report urged the government to “fully commit” to the Y network before seeking Parliamentary approval for HS2.
It also warned that HS2 investment must not lead to reduced spending on existing lines. Ministers should publish more information about the proposed location of stations before final approval is given.
And an assessment of the case for building the line from North to South should be done as a priority.
Even if a spur line is not included, the present plan could slash Liverpool-London journey times from two hours 10 minutes to one hour 38 minutes, although those figures are disputed.
Under the current plans the line would operate 18 trains per hour at 225 mph.
There remain fears that without a spur Liverpool will lose trade to Manchester.
