Government expands on plans for high-speed rail

Date: 22/12/2010

A proposed high-speed rail that will connect London to the West Midlands, Manchester and Leeds will also include a link to Heathrow, it has been announced.

The government appears to be firm in its commitment to encourage Britons to make use of green travel methods, as Transport Secretary Philip Hammond added that the planned lines would also connect to Europe's high-speed rail network.

It has been proposed that the first phase of the route will be joining London with Birmingham through a new line, although the original route for the track has undergone extensive alterations following meetings with locals.

Once completed, it is hoped the network would allow journey times of 30 minutes between London and Birmingham and 80 minutes between the capital and Manchester or Leeds.

Mr Hammond said: "Political and business leaders from across the country are clear that a rail network of this kind has huge potential to reshape our economic geography for the better."

Earlier in the month, the Department for Transport pledged an investment of £9.6 million to improve Reading's train station.

Posted by Nick Anderson