The first steps to fully integrating the second phase of High Speed 2 (HS2) with the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme have been announced as HS2 launches its phase 2b design refinement consultation.

The integration of the two schemes - which up until now have been developed separately - will see NPR developed in “close” co-ordination with HS2, and is “intended to make use of HS2 lines where that makes sense”.

Phase 2b of the HS2 route will run from Crewe to Manchester on the western branch, and the West Midlands to Leeds on the eastern branch.

The strategic outline business case for the £39bn NPR scheme was approved in February and is a package of new lines and upgrades to improve east-west connections between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds Sheffield and Hull and north to York and Newcastle.

Experts have been calling for the move including former HS2 independent design panel member Alistair Lenczner who is proposing a scheme, dubbed HS2 North, that uses existing rail infrastructure to replace sections of HS2. 

Last month, Transport for the North director of Northern Powerhouse Rail Tim Wood also told New Civil Engineer that both schemes would benefit from “synchronised procurement strategies”.

In a statement, transport secretary Chris Grayling said the proposals included for infrastructure that would “one day allow” NPR trains to use the HS2 route and vice versa.

The new consultation covers 11 changes being made to the design of the phase 2b route in a bid to make it more efficient, cost effective and minimise disruption.

These include plans to allow for two future junctions that could see the HS2 line into Manchester also used as part of NPR; further scope to support the interfaces with NPR (including at Leeds) and Midlands Connect; and work to upgrade existing sections of the rail network to allow HS2 trains to run between the south and north cities.

The refinements made to the design fall into three categories; relocations and realignments to make it more efficient; new infrastructure to facilitate construction or maintenance of the HS2 line and fleet; and new scope to ensure integration with the future NPR scheme.

The launch of the consultation comes at an uncertain time for the HS2 project with many fearing that it could get scrapped as part of a shake up with a new Conservative party leader.

Speaking to New Civil Engineer earlier this week, Grayling said that HS2 was essential and any new leader would “quickly realise” this.

“HS2 has the power to unlock capacity on the existing network, and my view is that whoever takes over, when they sit down and look at the practicalities and necessities of those projects, they will quickly realise that they are essential to the future of the country,” he said.