HS2 legal challenges rejected

Date: 24/7/2013

The high-speed railway HS2, which is set to built from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, is set to go ahead in spite of legal challenges that hoped to scupper its progress.
 
The Court of Appeal rejected the attempts, giving the project the green light, which is designed to encourage growth across the country.
 
There was a total of seven challenges, and the Court ruled unanimously in favour of the government on each of them. This means plans to begin construction in 2017 can move forward.
 
One dispute suggested the government should upgrade the existing rail network as an alternative to building HS2, while another questioned the fairness of the consultation process on the principle of the railway, the route of phase one and on the environmental and equality assessments.
 
"By dismissing all seven grounds of appeal and declining to refer the case to Europe, this is the second time in four months a court has rejected attempts to derail HS2," said Mr Baker.
 
"Parliament is the right place to debate the merits of HS2, not the law courts, and we will introduce the hybrid bill for phase one before the year is out. I urge opponents not to waste any more taxpayers’ money on expensive litigation and instead work with us on making HS2 the very best it can be."
 
He added that will continue to progress to ensure that work can begin in 2017, ensuring that the economy can benefit from the scheme as soon as possible.
 
Phase one, which runs between London and Birmingham, is the first to be built and is due to open in 2026, while phase two to Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham will launch in 2032.
 
Journey times from Birmingham to London are expected to be around 49 minutes, down from one hour 24 minutes, while trips from Manchester will be one hour 40 minutes, nearly half an hour quicker than the two hours eight minutes before HS2.
 
Posted by Mary Treen
 
Transport News, Transport Consulting News and TRL Ltd