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

CBI: Extending HS2 to the North is the 'big prize'

The head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has welcomed the announcement of the second phase of the HS2 rail network linking Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham:

We cannot sit on our hands when the West Coast Main Line is set to reach full capacity by the 2020s and freight will be squeezed.

Extending HS2 to the North is the project’s big prize. It will boost the economic potential of some of our biggest cities, driving growth and creating jobs across the country. This is the same bold, long-term thinking that helped the Victorians build our original network.

– John Cridland, CBI Director-General

New station facilities announced along HS2 route

While the precise route of the HS2 high speed rail extension is subject to a consultation, a number of cities and towns are expected to receive new station facilities or improvements to existing ones.

These include:

  • Manchester - alongside the existing Piccadilly station
  • Manchester Airport - interchange by the M56 between Warburton Green and Davenport Green
  • East Midlands - at Toton, between Nottingham and Derby and one mile from the M1
  • Crewe - dedicated link alongside the high speed line to link up with standard trains - reducing journey times to Liverpool and Glasgow.
  • Leeds - at New Lane in the South bank area connected to the main station by walkway
  • Sheffield - at Meadowhall shopping centre

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Central

Transport Secretary: 'HS2 will give Midlands the connections they deserve

While doing nothing would be the easy choice it would also be the irresponsible choice. This is an unparalleled opportunity to secure a step-change in Britain's competitiveness and this Government will do everything possible to ensure that the towns and cities in the Midlands and the North get the connections they need and deserve to thrive.

– Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary

Heathrow HS2 extension subject to airports review

The Government has announced that plans to extend the High Speed 2 rail network to Heathrow airport are "subject to the findings of the Airports Commission report".

Sir Howard Davies' review of future airport capacity is not due to give a final report until the summer of 2015.

The Department for Transport announced this morning that "HS2 will connect to Heathrow Airport from the first day that Phase One opens via a fast 11-minute Crossrail link at the new Old Oak Common station."

Construction of HS2 extension could start by 2025

The second phase of the HS2 high speed rail network is still subject to a consultation, but this is what the government is proposing so far:

  • Consultation to start this year
  • Final route chosen by end of 2014
  • Leeds to London journey time reduced from 1h28m to 41 minutes
  • Manchester to London journey time reduced from 1h58m to 58 minutes
  • Building could begin around 2025 with the line opening by 2033

For more on the HS2 plans and how they will affect you click here.

Labour: Government is 'not moving fast enough' on rail

Transport Secretary Maria Eagle spoke to ITV Daybreak about the next phase of the HS2 High Speed Rail route, which has just been unveiled.

HS2 was initially introduced by Labour, and Maria Eagle promised that if they were voted in next time, Labour would continue with these plans.

She added that the current Government however, was not moving fast enough: "So far all we've seen from this Government is a botched consultation on the first part to Birmingham, which they may have to re-run."

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