Menu
11/03/2010
Government's High Speed Rail Plans
Plans for a 'revolutionary' high speed rail network linking key regions in England were announced by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis today.
Trains running at up to 250 miles per hour would take commuters from London to Birmingham, Manchester, the East Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds.
The development of a 335 mile 'Y'-shaped network would bring the West Midlands within about half an hour of London, and deliver journey times of 75 minutes or less from Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester to the capital.
Connections onto existing tracks would be included, allowing direct high speed train services to be operated to cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Liverpool as soon as the line opens.
Full public consultation on that route, and the longer term strategy for high speed rail, will begin in the Autumn.
Lord Adonis said: "Over the next twenty to thirty years the UK will require a step-change in transport capacity and connectivity both to promote and respond to long-term economic growth.
"High speed rail would be by far the most effective way to achieve this step-change, offering a balance of capacity, connectivity and sustainability benefits unmatched by any other option."
The Government has formed its proposals after consideration of a detailed report from HS2 Ltd, the company set up by the Government in January 2009 to investigate the case for high speed rail.
A London-Birmingham high speed line would run from a rebuilt Euston station to a new Birmingham City Centre station at Fazeley/Curzon Street.
A Crossrail interchange station would be built at Old Oak Common in West London, giving the new line direct connections to the West End, City and Docklands via Crossrail, to the South West via the Great Western main line and to Heathrow via the Heathrow Express.
A second interchange station could also be located to the south east of Birmingham - offering direct links to Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre and the M6 and M42.
HS2 Ltd has provided an estimated cost of £30 billion for the core 'Y' network and also found that construction costs for major projects in the UK are higher than for comparable projects elsewhere in Europe.
The Government proposes to secure the powers to deliver any high speed network by means of a single Hybrid Bill.
Depending on the outcome of consultation and Parliamentary timescales and approval, this should allow construction to start after the Crossrail scheme is completed from 2017 with the high speed network opening in phases from 2026.
(PR/GK)
Trains running at up to 250 miles per hour would take commuters from London to Birmingham, Manchester, the East Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds.
The development of a 335 mile 'Y'-shaped network would bring the West Midlands within about half an hour of London, and deliver journey times of 75 minutes or less from Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester to the capital.
Connections onto existing tracks would be included, allowing direct high speed train services to be operated to cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Liverpool as soon as the line opens.
Full public consultation on that route, and the longer term strategy for high speed rail, will begin in the Autumn.
Lord Adonis said: "Over the next twenty to thirty years the UK will require a step-change in transport capacity and connectivity both to promote and respond to long-term economic growth.
"High speed rail would be by far the most effective way to achieve this step-change, offering a balance of capacity, connectivity and sustainability benefits unmatched by any other option."
The Government has formed its proposals after consideration of a detailed report from HS2 Ltd, the company set up by the Government in January 2009 to investigate the case for high speed rail.
A London-Birmingham high speed line would run from a rebuilt Euston station to a new Birmingham City Centre station at Fazeley/Curzon Street.
A Crossrail interchange station would be built at Old Oak Common in West London, giving the new line direct connections to the West End, City and Docklands via Crossrail, to the South West via the Great Western main line and to Heathrow via the Heathrow Express.
A second interchange station could also be located to the south east of Birmingham - offering direct links to Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre and the M6 and M42.
HS2 Ltd has provided an estimated cost of £30 billion for the core 'Y' network and also found that construction costs for major projects in the UK are higher than for comparable projects elsewhere in Europe.
The Government proposes to secure the powers to deliver any high speed network by means of a single Hybrid Bill.
Depending on the outcome of consultation and Parliamentary timescales and approval, this should allow construction to start after the Crossrail scheme is completed from 2017 with the high speed network opening in phases from 2026.
(PR/GK)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
21 December 2010
New High Speed Rail Proposals Unveiled
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond today confirmed that the Government’s proposed high speed rail network - which would link London to the West Midlands, Manchester and Leeds - will include a direct link to Heathrow and to the European high speed rail network.
New High Speed Rail Proposals Unveiled
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond today confirmed that the Government’s proposed high speed rail network - which would link London to the West Midlands, Manchester and Leeds - will include a direct link to Heathrow and to the European high speed rail network.
10 January 2012
High Speed Rail Network Given The Green Light
Despite strong opposition a controversial high-speed rail line has been given the nod by government. High Speed 2 (HS2) is a scheme to deliver hugely enhanced rail capacity and connectivity between Britain’s major conurbations. Phase one of HS2, between London and Birmingham, should be running by 2026, later extending to northern England.
High Speed Rail Network Given The Green Light
Despite strong opposition a controversial high-speed rail line has been given the nod by government. High Speed 2 (HS2) is a scheme to deliver hugely enhanced rail capacity and connectivity between Britain’s major conurbations. Phase one of HS2, between London and Birmingham, should be running by 2026, later extending to northern England.
12 January 2012
Proposals To Bring High Speed Rail To Scotland
Talks will begin immediately to bring high speed rail to Scotland after Transport Minister Keith Brown met with his Westminster counterpart. Mr Brown was disappointed yesterday to hear Westminster Secretary of State for Transport Justine Greening announce that the first phase of the new line would go only as far as Birmingham.
Proposals To Bring High Speed Rail To Scotland
Talks will begin immediately to bring high speed rail to Scotland after Transport Minister Keith Brown met with his Westminster counterpart. Mr Brown was disappointed yesterday to hear Westminster Secretary of State for Transport Justine Greening announce that the first phase of the new line would go only as far as Birmingham.
08 November 2011
High Speed Rail Network Gets Backing
A government committee has announced that a high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham has a "good case". The announcement comes after the Government carried out a public consultation on the proposal and the recommended route for an initial high-speed line from London to the West Midlands.
High Speed Rail Network Gets Backing
A government committee has announced that a high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham has a "good case". The announcement comes after the Government carried out a public consultation on the proposal and the recommended route for an initial high-speed line from London to the West Midlands.
23 June 2014
High-Speed Rail Link Needed To Boost Northern England
Chancellor George Osborne has announced government plans for a high-speed rail link in the north of England to help re-balance the UK economy. Mr Osborne said a new high-speed railway would create "a northern powerhouse" in a project called by the government as the "most important investment in the north for a century".
High-Speed Rail Link Needed To Boost Northern England
Chancellor George Osborne has announced government plans for a high-speed rail link in the north of England to help re-balance the UK economy. Mr Osborne said a new high-speed railway would create "a northern powerhouse" in a project called by the government as the "most important investment in the north for a century".
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A dry day with any low cloud and mist clearing during the morning leaving long spells of warm sunshine. Breezy at times around the coast. Maximum temperature 20 °C.Tonight:A fine end to the day with some sunshine, then clear spells overnight. Low cloud could form around some Irish Sea coasts later in the night. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
