As far as implementing HS2 goes, the level of policy resolve has unprecedented continuity, as reflected in the returning Secretary of State for Transport’s speech in Leeds on June 1st. We would highlight the point Patrick McLoughlin made about examining bringing forward the Leeds-Sheffield section of HS2. This was not in HS2 Ltd’s original plans. But as we made clear in in our 2014 blog, stakeholders responding to the Phase 2 made clear they want HS2 benefits brought sooner to Yorkshire. And they want to see more use made of HS2 and more connections made between it and the existing network. They talked of Javelin type services – for example running between Leeds and Nottingham. Accelerating the Yorkshire part of the scheme relies on putting these connections in place and HS2 Ltd (with Network Rail) needs to rise to the challenge of developing a good design solution.