Nottingham 'could be 1 hour from London with HS2'

Date: 6/4/2011

Passengers travelling from Nottingham to London could enjoy a journey time of around one hour if they are able to use high-speed rail (HS2) - compared to the current time of one hour 45 minutes - the Transport Secretary has claimed.

Philip Hammond has this week met with civic and business leaders in the east Midlands to outline the benefits of the government's proposed rail project, which it hopes will not only make connections between the UK's biggest cities better, but will also boost the economy.

As well as shorter journey times to the capital, Nottingham commuters could find it takes just 23 minutes to travel to Birmingham and 40 minutes to reach Leeds.

Under the HS2 plans, a network that includes a station in the east Midlands will be constructed between London and Birmingham, before branching off to Manchester and Leeds.

"Just one look at a map of our proposals shows the region would be right at the heart of the network and would reap the rewards this brings, with fast, direct connections to London, Birmingham and Yorkshire," Mr Hammond said.

With consultation into the scheme continuing, ministers from the Department for Transport have so far met with business and civic leaders in Scotland, Yorkshire and the north-west.

Posted by Mary Treen