High speed rail route revealed
The routes of high speed rail links to cities in the north of England have been unveiled in a move that will cut journey times and what the Government hopes will act as an "engine for growth" for the economy.
Latest ITV News reports
The row behind the route: HS2 plans revealed
As the HS2 route is revealed campaigners have labelled the high speed train line a white elephant. There have also been protests outside the constituency office of Chancellor George Osborne in Tatton, an area the route will cross.
ITV News Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen reports:
Full details of the HS2 plans
The routes of high speed rail links to cities in the north of England have been unveiled by the Government.
You can find full details of all the plans by following the links below:
• For full route details click here.
• For more information on new journey times click here.
• For details of new stations click here.
• Click here for the proposed timeline for the building of HS2.
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Tickets 'will be expensive' says PM
The Prime Minister says the money to pay for HS2 will need to come from 'a balance' between the Government and 'the train user' - but expensive tickets are necessary for 'Britain to be a success'. See the full interview above.
'Generous compensation' promised for HS2
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has said that those who need to sell their house but struggle because of the HS2 plans will still be helped and that he wants the line, "to create jobs and prosperity not to harm it."
"I understand how proposals like this can affect the property markets so compensation will be as generous as on the first phase, and more generous then when we built the motorways."
Transport Secretary: 'HS2 benefits will spread beyond route'
by Chris Ship - Deputy Political EditorTransport Secretary says that the HS2 will be first main line north of London for nearly 120 years.
Patrick McLoughlin has told the House of Commons that it is not just about faster trains to London - but about how our greatest cities are linked.
Mr McLoughlin said he is determined that HS2 benefits will be spread much wider than just those places served by the line.
Govt plan to link North with South runs into divisions
The government has unveiled the second phase of its multi-billion pound project to link the capital with cities in the Midlands and North by high speed rail.
The government promises journey times on routes from Birmingham to Manchester and from Birmingham to Leeds will be slashed and thousands of jobs will be created.
But critics say its proponents are exaggerating the economic benefits and risking environmental vandalism.
ITV News' Deputy Political Editor Chris Ship reports:
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Osborne welcomes 'huge boost' from HS2
Chancellor George Osborne said HS2 will be a "huge boost" in the North West and will create thousands of jobs.
The second phase of the HS2 high speed rail network is still subject to a consultation, but the government is proposing building could begin around 2025, with the line opening by 2033.
Osborne spoke to ITV News about the announcement at his visit to Lucchini UK, a Manchester-based manufacturers, which makes train wheels and other specialist items for the railway industry.
Osborne does the rounds of a train wheel factory
Chancellor George Osborne has been touring a plant that makes train wheels in Manchester.
He spoke to workers at the Lucchini UK factory following the announcement that an extension of the planned HS2 line will bring news jobs to the manufacturing sector.
Prime Minister holds Cabinet meeting at Leeds Museum
The Prime Minister's team has tweeted this photo of a Cabinet meeting in progress at Leeds Museum to discuss "how billions will be invested in [the] Midlands and North, creating thousands of jobs".
David Cameron on HS2: This is going to happen
David Cameron was resolute when asked about Tory opposition to the HS2 project: "This is going to happen. I have been a strong supporter right from the start." The Prime Minister continued:
– Prime Minister David CameronThese are difficult economic times, but I think that is precisely the time you should be planning for the future, working out how we link up the cities of our country, how we reduce journey times, how we spread wealth and prosperity around the country.
We do need to rebalance the economy, it has been too dominated by the South and by certain industries and high speed rail will really help to create a better balanced economy.