HS2 Hybrid Bill introduced to Parliament

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The HS2 Hybrid Bill, described as project’s planning application, has been published by the Department for Transport (DfT).

If the bill’s passage through Parliament goes smoothly, construction of the line between London and Birmingham could begin between 2016 an 2017.

The DfT has said the publication of the bill gives those opposed to the project the chance to petition against the proposals to MPs.

Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said: “HS2 is the most ambitious and important infrastructure project in the UK since we built the M25 30 years ago, and in 30 more it will be just as integral a part of the nation’s prosperity.

“The bill will give us the powers we need to get the railway built and start delivering the extra room on our railways that this country so desperately needs. It will also start the process of rebalancing the economy and bringing our great cities closer together.

“That is why the bill is so important – it marks the move from aspiration to delivery. Now is the time to be bold and ensure HS2 becomes a reality.”

The government has also published the environmental statement for Phase One.

In a statement, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “With rail passenger numbers along the west coast route set to rise sharply in the next few decades, HS2 is vital for delivering the extra capacity that passengers will need.”

4 COMMENTS

  1. We can’t afford to pay our pensioners a living pension or keep our hospital A & Es open,but we can blow a staggering £50 billion to get businessmen to Birmingham 20 minutes earlier.

  2. HS2 should go ahead for many reasons, when the line has been completed and passenger grouth increases, the amount of passenger travelling on the rail network cannot be catered for with the present system.
    The amount of freight being carried will also increase (new port terminal on the north side of the Thames) and the owner is committed to using the rail system to move the containers, therefore more paths would be required.
    This can only be achieved by providing an alterntive route for passengers.

  3. “construction of the line between London and Birmingham could begin between 2016 an 2017.”

    With the first HS2 stage open, Birmingham would be within an hour’s commute of the London economic mega-magnet. The risk is that Brum would become more of a London commuter satellite than it is now, worsening the North-South Divide before HS2 launches its two forks north of Birmingham.

    Unlike HS2, Plan B would be built North-first. Its first stage would halve the rail time between Manchester and Leeds and provide the missing link for a Northern Crossrail that draws East Lancs time-nearer to West Yorks: a combined urban area half as big again as Birmingham. Good for the North South Divide. And it has no fork across Cheshire.

    http://hsnorthstart.wordpress….

    HS2 will not do this.

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