Andy Burnham is calling for changes to how HS2 serves Manchester, seeking to reinstate a rail link to the city that was removed from the project. HS2 is currently under construction between London and Birmingham, while the planned onward phase to Manchester was cancelled in 2023 by then–prime minister Rishi Sunak. Burnham’s proposal would focus on a Manchester connection using slower trains rather than the originally planned high-speed approach, according to reports. Critics question the idea, arguing it would be costly and describing it as unrealistic, with one figure cited at £60 billion. Supporters and opponents differ on the feasibility and value of altering the scheme. The debate centers on how best to connect Manchester to the HS2 network and what technical and financial trade-offs would be involved in changing the plan after the cancellation. The government and project stakeholders are not presented in these reports as having agreed to any revised Manchester route, but the proposal renews discussion about the region’s rail priorities and the future scope of HS2.