Posted 4th February 2009 | 3 Comments
Brown will back ‘credible plan’ to link Heathrow and West Midlands
Gordon Brown, Prime Minister.
Gordon Brown has thrown his weight behind high-speed rail as the controversy over whether it should replace a new Heathrow Airport runway reached fever pitch.
Mr Brown was responding to Liberal Democrat Edinburgh MP John Barrett, who used Prime Minister’s Questions to ask him about the issue.
He asked why, after 12 years of Labour government, was the country still waiting for a national high-speed rail link.
Mr Brown replied that when transport secretary Geoff Hoon outlined their plans on Heath-row “he also announced our proposals to set up a company to pursue a high-speed rail link, and that is exactly what we intend to do”.
“We are prepared to make a commitment to that project, and all the work that is now starting is designed around getting high-speed rail lines moving forward.”
Mr Hoon said “a credible plan” for a new high-speed rail line between Heathrow and the West Midlands is expected before the end of the year.
The new company, High Speed 2, will look at the case for services between London and Scotland. But it will first develop a plan for a line to the West Midlands that could link to Heathrow and Crossrail through a new international interchange station.
Mr Hoon said he rejected the opposition parties’ view that a new high-speed line should be an alternative to ‘much needed’ capacity at Heathrow.
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers had said: “It has been demonstrated in the rest of Europe that there is a clear opportunity for high-speed rail to provide a viable alternative to short-haul flights.
“By providing that alternative, we would relieve overcrowding at Heathrow and make it a much better airport for both businesses and passengers.”
The Conservatives support a new high-speed rail line connecting Heathrow terminals directly with Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and the Channel Tunnel link to Paris and Brussels.
Ms Villiers said the Government’s “apparent conversion” to high-speed rail was welcome, “but unlike in our proposals, there is no firm commitment, no timeline and no attempt to get a new line past Birmingham”.
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
H. T. Harvey, Birmingham, UK
It is essential the High Speed (above 180mph) rail network HS2. 3 etc is expanded it would create a investment in the future, and help to reduce the imbalance between the North and South regions of UK Scotland included.
Heathrow should be the beginning iof a spur to Wales and the West Country St pancras the logical London termini.
From St P the line should 'follow' the Midland Mainline as far as Bedford the swing towards Northampton and trail the West Coast mainline to the East of Rugby Here a spur would head along the Trent valley passing to the East of Stafford and on to Machester .
From Rugby the HS line would track to the East of Coventry (a station where it would cross the Coventry to Nuneaton Line.
It should be possible to 4 track the Rugby Coventry Birmingham line and to use New St (fools denied Birmingham its Grand Central station) to serve Birmingham though train lengths would be limited.
Exiting New St via the Derby line and deviate around Water Orton and pick up the Trent valley spur for Manchester and the North West plus Glasgow.
Returning to Northampton/Bedford a N.E. England spur could be provided to which could join with a spur from Water Orton somewhere in the Leicester/Nottingham Area.
If New St is to difficult there is land on either side of the Birmingham Derby line that would provide a second chance at a proper station.
A two level station where the Camp Hill line passes under the Coventry Birmingham line might be a good bet
Anoop, Harrow
Being optimistic, at least the Government have now changed their mind and support the idea, so things can get moving. On the basis of past projects (e.g. High Speed 1), delays in the decision to go ahead seem to outweigh any delays in the construction itself.
By delaying the decision to build High Speed 1, they wasted £500 million on the unnecessary Waterloo International station and associated upgrades to accommodate Eurostar on the existing lines. By delaying High Speed 2, they have failed to provide a relief route for the West Coast Mainline during its upgrade, thus increasing the cost of the upgrade and the disruption it has caused.
And there are numerous other tramway and rail schemes which will bring great benefit and boost the economy, but only if the Government decides to build them. The longer the delay, the greater the unnecessary costs (e.g. traffic congestion) we will have to pay in the meantime.
leslie burge, leicester, england
I would not trust Gordon Brown with anything to do with the Railways.
This government has always been road orientated and seems unable to see the bigger picture.
That is why you always get none committal answers on start dates cost
etc. I've said it before the only link you will get is to Heathrow and then the money will run out.