Transport
Secretary Andrew Adonis has predicted 2010 will be the year of
high-speed rail in the UK on the day he received what could prove
to be a landmark report for the future of transport in this country.
High Speed Two - the company set up to advise the Government on
the development of high-speed rail services between London and
Scotland - delivers its highly-anticipated report today. The study
is the most detailed examination ever undertaken of how to take
forward high-speed rail in Britain.
Andrew Adonis said:
"This is an important report which will shape the future
of high-speed rail in this country.
"High-speed rail has real potential to regenerate and
reinvigorate. Our high-speed network lags behind that of many of
our European neighbours and doesn't connect any of our
major cities, but this report could change that.
“I am excited about the possibilities that high-speed rail has to
transform transport in this country for the better, providing
environmental benefits, encouraging investment and boosting
business and jobs.
"Scrutiny of the report will begin immediately and we
will announce how we plan to take high speed rail forward by the
end of March - making 2010 the year of high speed rail in the UK."
The report from High Speed Two (HS2) presents a detailed route
plan for the first stage of a north-south high-speed line, from
London to the West Midlands, as well as options for extending
high-speed services, and high speed lines, to destinations further
north, including the North West, the East Midlands, Yorkshire, the
North East and Scotland.
If the Government decides to pursue proposals for high-speed
rail, it will publish a white paper by the end of March 2010. The
white paper will set out detailed plans for new high-speed rail
lines and services, including route proposals, timescales and
associated financial, economic, and environmental assessments.
This would be followed by a full public consultation starting in
the Autumn of 2010, giving all interested parties an opportunity
to comment before the proposals are finalised.
Notes to Editors
The Government will not publish the HS2 report in advance of the
Government’s response, as to do so would cause unnecessary blight
in respect of options identified but not taken forward. The HS2
report will be published alongside the Government response.
HS2's business case will be supported by technical
assessments, including demand forecasts and an assessment of the
potential for shifting journeys to high-speed rail from air and
road. For the route between London and the West Midlands, HS2’s
report will include: design specifications; environmental
assessments; and, costs, funding and delivery structures.
Contacts:
Rail .
Phone: 020 7944 3108
nds.dft@coi.gsi.gov.uk