High Speed Rail UK

Thursday 11 March 2010

Responding to the Government’s announcement on high speed rail, Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), said:

“The Government’s announcement confirms rail as integral to the future success of the British economy, linking the nation’s major cities in a way which will transform how people get around the country. Continue reading

Thursday 11 March 2010

Theresa Villiers MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, wrote the below blog on today’s announcement about plans to take forward proposals for a new high speed rail network that first appeared on ConservativeHome.com

Two years ago the Conservative Party took the bold step of announcing a timetabled and costed commitment to deliver a north-south high speed line. At the time, Labour had made it clear that high speed rail had no part to play in their in their 30 year strategy for the railways. But we remained steadfast in our support for this crucial upgrade to the nation’s transport system – and we have led the debate on high speed rail ever since. Continue reading

Thursday 11 March 2010

The Secretray of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, today announced plans to take forward proposals for a new high speed rail network in the UK which would deliver an initial core high speed rail network linking London to Birmingham, Manchester, the East Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds, with trains running at up to 250 miles per hour.

It was also announced that Transport Minister Sadiq Khan will be visiting the North West to explain how these proposals could benefit the region.

Adonis sets out high speed rail proposals; DfT Press Release Continue reading

Monday 15 February 2010

The House of Commons Transport Select Committee have published its report on ‘Priorities for investment in the railways’, which says that future high speed rail investment should not be at the expense of maintaining investment in the “classic” rail network. Continue reading

Friday 12 February 2010

A new report from Greengauge 21 says that it is essential that high-speed rail should serve Heathrow Airport directly, but that the HS2 scheme linking London and The West Midlands should not be compromised to achieve this. Continue reading

Wednesday 20 January 2010

A new report has once again highlighted the value of high speed rail, and clearly demonstrates that it is essential to maintain Britain’s competitiveness. It confirms the need for the benefits of high speed to be spread to all the principal cities of the UK and for it to be properly integrated with the ‘classic’ rail network. Continue reading

Friday 15 January 2010

In a speech given at Politeia, the think tank, earlier this week Theresa Villiers MP spoke about how “… this country needs high speed rail”.

Though the speech covered a number of themes, the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport was keen to showcase the Conservative Party’s support and committment to high speed rail. Continue reading

Monday 04 January 2010

At the start of the new year the Conservative Party leader spoke of his support for a new high speed rail network in his ‘year of change’ speech. Continue reading

Monday 14 December 2009

Today saw the official launch of the UK’s first domestic high speed rail service. The new high speed service will operate from St. Pancras International to Kent and is part of a fully integrated timetable in the South East.  Continue reading