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'HS3' rail link for north of England backed by Sir David Higgins

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Plans for "HS3" were analysed by Sir David Higgins, the man in charge of the HS2 project

Plans for a high-speed "HS3" rail link in the north of England have moved a step closer after a report by the boss of the HS2 scheme, Sir David Higgins.

Sir David said better rail links in northern England were "desirable" and "possible" after being asked to look at ways of maximising the benefits of HS2.

Journey times from Manchester to Leeds could be cut from 48 to 26 minutes. The government says it will now produce a strategy looking at options, costs and a delivery timetable for HS3. An interim report will be produced in March.

The east-west improvements backed by Sir David would be in addition to the north-of-Birmingham phase two of HS2 which will see a Y-shaped route going from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds.

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Sir David does not make specific proposals for how to achieve faster times, but says a mixture of current and new projects would make them possible.

Chancellor George Osborne said in June that a high-speed rail link between Manchester and Leeds could help to create a "northern global powerhouse" and asked Sir David to consider how to improve east-west connectivity.

In his report, Rebalancing Britain, Sir David said: "I firmly believe that substantially improved services east-west across the North are not only desirable, but possible. We need to turn the aspiration into a practical plan."

Under the plans analysed by Sir David, a mixture of current proposals for rail upgrades and further work, including electrification, could cut journey times from Liverpool to Leeds to an hour.

More journeys between Leeds and Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield Meadowhall, York and Birmingham and Nottingham to Birmingham could also be reduced by a half or more. Around 30 minutes would also be cut from journeys between Manchester and both Hull and Newcastle.

Sir David added: "This initial work needs to continue, and intensify, to identify the best route, how and when it would be constructed, and its cost. This is as important to the North as Crossrail is to London."

Chancellor George Osborne has set up a new body called Transport for the North, made up of the main northern city regions, which will work with the UK government to produce a strategy for the region.

Prime Minister David Cameron said improving connectivity and reducing journey times was "crucial" to the government's long-term economic plan for the north of England. He added: "I welcome Sir David Higgins' report which will help our work to create a northern powerhouse and ensure that HS2 delivers the maximum economic benefits."

In the report, Sir David also recommends sticking with the plan to split the HS2 line in two after the London to Birmingham stage is completed. An eastern leg will stretch from Birmingham to Leeds, via the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. A western leg will run from Birmingham to Manchester, via Crewe.

Sir David also recommends a north-west England hub for HS2 is built in Crewe, saying it is the "best way to serve not just the local region, but also provide services into the rest of the North West, north Wales and Merseyside."

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "Our northern cities are on the brink of an economic transformation and today's report underlines how we can secure this by bringing those cities together to maximise the benefits of good transport links."

Mary Creagh, Labour's shadow transport secretary, said: "Labour supports high-speed rail to tackle commuter overcrowding and to improve connections between cities in the North and Midlands and London. We have repeatedly said we need value for money for the taxpayer and to improve the existing plans to maximise the benefits for the whole country." David Cameron would be judged "on his actions, not words", she said.

Stop HS2 campaign manger Joe Rukin said the "HS3" scheme would prove more costly per mile than HS2. He claimed Sir David's report "showed that the original plans for HS2 weren't thought through properly." He added: "Changing the mess that is phase two doesn't change the fact that phase one is still a complete mess, as is the entire concept of HS2."

Construction on the ^50bn HS2 project is due to start in 2017.

Phase one involves a new high-speed line from Euston in London to Birmingham, with an expected completion date of 2026.

Phase two was originally scheduled to be completed in 2032/33, although Sir David is keen for this date to be brought forward.

Objectors to HS2 have said the scheme will cause an unacceptable level of environmental damage, loss of homes and disruption to many communities. But in January the Supreme Court rejected a legal bid to force further scrutiny of the first stage of the government's plans.

Give it another week and more desperate politicians with May 2015 looming ever closer and we'll have plans for HS4 too, London-Cardiff..