High-speed rail network plans 'to be announced in March'

Date: 14/12/2009

Plans to extend Britain's high-speed rail network are to be announced by the end of March next year, it has been reported.

Transport secretary Lord Adonis announced today (December 14th) that plans will consider the future of high-speed rail, with suggested route plans and extension proposals.

The transport secretary made the announcement as he travelled on one of the new-high speed services to St Pancras, where he met passengers who currently use the new line.

High-speed trains currently serve a total of 22 towns and cities, using the line which cost £5.8 billion.

Lord Adonis commented on the planned expansion: "The potential for high-speed rail to regenerate and reinvigorate is now a reality for people in Kent, but the size of Britain's high-speed network lags behind that of many of our European neighbours and doesn't connect any of our major cities."

He added the report plans to consider how this lag can be reduced by improving the high-speed service.

Meanwhile, rail services in Wales and the Marches area could face disruption this week as signal workers strike over a new roster system.