Engineering news
The Prime Minister has insisted that the new high-speed rail links to the north of England will go ahead, despite a backlash as the routes were unveiled.
David Cameron said extending the London to Birmingham HS2 line as far as Manchester and Leeds would “spread wealth and prosperity” around the country.
Officials say the second phase of the HS2 project would ease overcrowding, boost regional business and create over 100,000 jobs.
The move has been widely welcomed by business, which called on the government to follow it up with funding for further infrastructure links within the regions.
Cameron said: “You have to plan for these things. High Speed 1, linking us to the Channel Tunnel was a long time in planning but it is good to get on with this now. And, yes, these are difficult economic times, but I think that is precisely the time you should be planning for the future, working out how we link up the cities of our country, how we reduce journey times, how we spread wealth and prosperity around the country.
“We do need to rebalance the economy, it has been too dominated by the south and by certain industries and high speed rail will really help to create a better balanced economy.”
Pressed on whether opponents could force him into a u-turn, Cameron insisted the scheme would go ahead. He said: “This is going to happen. I have been a strong supporter right from the start, in Opposition.”
However, some Conservative backbenchers have attacked today's announcement and warned they would not support the “flawed” government policy.
The Stop HS2 campaign has challenged claims that the extended rail links will be good for the economies of the Midlands and the North, and ministers are also braced for fierce opposition from rural communities in areas affected by the plans.
Penny Gaines who chairs the Stop HS2 campaign said the plans should be dropped. She said: “In reality, high-speed rail projects elsewhere have sucked jobs to the capital cities, away from the regions.
“Stop HS2 is firmly of the opinion that the whole HS2 project is fundamentally flawed. It should be cancelled as soon as possible, so that we can concentrate on developing the transport infrastructure that will bring more benefits to more people than a fast train for fat cats.”
Chancellor George Osborne conceded the decision would be “controversial” but insisted the proposals were an “engine for growth”.
Osborne told BBC Breakfast: “It is a controversial decision, because building anything in this country there are going to be people who object to it.
“But I think the economic benefits to all communities are pretty compelling - whether it's the fact that there's going to be a station in the East Midlands or the fact we are going to have stations at Manchester airport and a rail hub in Crewe... and also eight of our 10 largest cities in Britain are going to be connected.
“And it's not just about cutting journey times - although it does cut in half the journey time from Manchester to London - it's also about the new stations, the prosperity that's going to come, the jobs that are going to be created around this infrastructure.”
If the second phase goes ahead the Department for Transport said there would be five stops on the Y-shaped extension:
- Manchester - alongside the existing Piccadilly station
- Manchester Airport - interchange by the M56 between Warburton Green and Davenport Green
- East Midlands - at Toton, between Nottingham and Derby and one mile from the M1
- Sheffield - at Meadowhall shopping centre
- Leeds - at New Lane in the South bank area connected to the main station by walkway
The extension would be completed in 2032, six years after the London to Birmingham link is finished.