High-speed rail may cost just £6bn

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

A new high-speed rail network costing £6bn could be delivered within a decade, according to a study ministers are considering. This would be significantly cheaper than the £15.8bn-£17.4bn price tag placed on the 225mph London to Birmingham service by High Speed Two.

But progress could be hampered by the dismal state of public finances and opposition from homeowners along the new routes.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond commented: "It is vital that any new high speed network offers good value for passengers and for taxpayers. We need to look carefully at all the options to achieve this, and this report is a welcome contribution to the debate."

The report proposes bypassing Heathrow and linking Manchester and Birmingham airports with Old Oak Common in west London, bypassing the cities themselves.

James Watkins, executive director of Business Voice WM, said: "The business community across the West Midlands region supports a high speed rail line between London and Birmingham and onwards towards Glasgow and Edinburgh. This scheme would be the largest civil engineering project for the West Midlands since Junction 6 of the M6 was opened in 1972."

Birmingham International Airport said such a high speed line would be a major boost to regional airports, added to the government's plans to scrap the third runway at Heathrow.

Birmingham Airport's head of government and industry affairs John Morris said: "We have plenty of capacity and, linked to high-speed rail, we are uniquely positioned to attract passengers from the overheated South-east. Birmingham is famous for chocolate, cars, canals, culture – and lots more. We are perfectly placed for those visitors from abroad who want to experience all that the region, and further afield, has to offer."