HS2 construction on track after parliament approval

The first phase of the controversial High Speed 2 (HS2) railway passed its final parliamentary hurdle last night, paving the way for work to start later this year.

Plans for the £56 billion rail project are expected to be given Royal Assent in the coming week.

The new high speed line will go through parts of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and will open in 2026.

Environmental and local campaigners claim historic properties and areas of special interest will be devastated by the line.

Labour MP Keir Starmer warned that construction on the project would impact the lives of residents for 17 years.

The Government says it will create tens of thousands of jobs and benefit the economy by billions of pounds.

Trains will travel at 225 miles an hour between London and Birmingham and reduce congestion on existing lines. Journeys will take 49 minutes, about half an hour faster than today.

A second phase of the scheme will go from Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester and is being consulted on.