Controversial high-speed rail link would shave one hour off journey time from London to Scotland

By Suzannah Hills

Last updated at 9:06 PM on 9th January 2012

The proposed ?32billion HS2 high-speed rail link will 'transform the way we travel in Britain' and drastically cut journey times between some of the UK's biggest cities if given the go-ahead, ministers have claimed.

The Government looks set to approve plans for the controversial route, which would be the biggest UK rail project in over a century, and create new faster links between the north and south of the country.

A 100-mile link between London and Birmingham - the first phrase of the project that would be completed by 2026 - would cut the journey time from one hour 24 minutes to just 49 minutes.

Plans: Ministers are accused of dragging their feet over the controversial high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham

The Government argues that the first phase alone will support the creation of around 400,000 jobs as well as contributing to the major regeneration programmes in Britain?s inner cities.

A second phase would see HS2 proceeding on a Y-shaped route to take in Leeds and Manchester with this northern sector being completed by 2032/33.

Stops are planned for East Midlands and South Yorkshire, with links to the existing West Coast and East Coast main lines, which would enable through-running services to reach Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Journey times from London to Scotland?s major cities would be cut to around three hours 30 minutes, while London-Manchester and London-Leeds journey times would be reduced to 80 minutes.

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There would also be a link to the cross-London Crossrail scheme at Old Oak Common in north west London as well as a possible route to Heathrow airport.

A direct rail link between HS2 and the London to Channel Tunnel HS1 high-speed route is also a possibility and would run in a tunnel from Old Oak Common to the North London Line using the existing infrastructure to reach the HS1 line north of St Pancras station in London.

The Government claims that the whole HS2 project will generate economic benefits of almost ?44 billion over a 60-year period.

But the leader of action groups against the London-Birmingham scheme said it would merely 'shackle the country with an extra ?1,700 debt for every household'.

Chairman of Action Groups Against HS2, Jerry Marshall, said that rather than strengthening Britain's position in the global economy, HS2 'if anything, will do quite the opposite.

Opposition: Stop HS2 protest signs in Wendover, Buckinghamshire

He went on: 'Shackling the country with an extra ?1,700 of debt for every British household at a time of austerity will undermine the recovery and inevitably lead to cuts, not only in other vital rail projects, but in other public services.

'The role high-speed rail can play in our transport infrastructure is one of bringing faster, more-frequent and reliable services that benefit the whole country rather than a single, eye-wateringly expensive project that will actually increase journey times for all but the fortunate few able to afford to use it.'

However, Mr Cameron is firmly behind the plan, and with the Government ruling out a third runway at Heathrow airport, HS2 has become the central plank in its transport policy.

The initial plans for the scheme were first announced nearly two years ago by Labour's transport secretary Lord Adonis.

He has been urging government to approve the plans and expressed his frustration at how long the project has taken to come to fruition.

Lord Adonis said: 'The only thing high speed about the development of HS2 in Britain is the treading of water.

Outspoken: Former Secretary of State for Transport Lord Andrew Adonis

'The valid criticism of the Government is not that it is riding roughshod over Nimbys in the Chilterns.

'Rather, ministers have stalled the project while dithering over straightforward local mitigation issues.

'They make the mistake of believing that opposition to big infrastructure projects diminishes the longer you drag out consultation.

'Delay simply entrenches opposition - including hostility within the Conservative Party which is dogging HS2 - and gives it the belief that 'one last heave' will see off a prevaricating government.'

The Government had been due to make a decision about HS2 before Christmas but Transport Secretary Justine Greening announced that she would not make an announcement until January.

Even if all proceeds to plan, HS2's first phase, from London to Birmingham, would not be ready before 2026.

And the Y-shaped extension, taking the high-speed line north of Birmingham to north east and north west England, would not be completed until about 2032/33.

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Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5723511377

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