New high speed rail link announced

The Government has announced plans for the development of a high speed rail network linking London to Birmingham.

Command Paper: High Speed Rail

The network would be capable of carrying trains at up to 250 mph and could be extended to other cities and to Scotland.

Announcing the plans, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said the London to Birmingham section of the route will run from a point close to Euston station in London and interchange with the Crossrail network.

The PM, who travelled to Birmingham today, visited the site of the new central Birmingham station where the proposed high speed route would interchange.

Lord Adonis said:

“High speed rail is a long term strategic project to equip Britain with the transport infrastructure it needs to flourish in the 21st Century. Now, as we emerge from recession, is the right time to be planning.

“The Government s view is that high speed rail could play a crucial role not only in meeting reasonable future transport capacity requirements, but also in transforming the connectivity between our major cities, regions and economic centres.”

Lord Adonis also said the high speed trains would be more sustainable and “emit far less carbon than cars or planes per passenger mile”. The new network would also release capacity from the existing West Coast Main Line for commuter and freight services.

The high speed rail strategy was based on analysis from an independent company set up by the Government, High Speed Two Ltd.

The plans will now go out to consultation with construction starting in 2017.

Previous story: Gordon Brown hails the launch of UK high-speed train travel

Read more: Department for Transport - high speed rail

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seen at 08:03, 13 March in Number 10 » News Stories.
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