HS2

23.05.13

High speed spurs could boost decentralisation – Greengauge 21

Greengauge 21 has welcomed comments from transport minister Simon Burns, confirming how further extensions could be added to HS2 to help rebalance the national economy.

Extending the project to a high-speed network across the UK could be “a transformational prospect for decentralisation”, Greengauge 21 stated.

Burns said: “You’ve got to see high speed rail as proposed as a spine up the country. In the future there is no reason why you may not see spurs into South Wales for example, or Liverpool, or maybe across the east of the country, or down to the South West.”

His comments support previous work commissioned by Greengauge 21 and carried out by KPMG that illustrated the positive impact a high speed rail network could bring.

Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]

Image c. HS2 Ltd

Comments

Mikeyb   23/05/2013 at 19:30

Good to see that Simon Burns is not ruling out the possibility of spurs to those cities and other connurbations that were initially ommitted fro the original plan.

James   29/05/2013 at 12:11

I thought it was this project that was supposed to rebalance the economy, not subsequent ones? To my ears I think it sounds more like wanting to placate growing resentment in cities who are going to see HS2 whoosh past them at full speed and full expense into their neighbours' shiny new euro-stations, along with all the according direct and indirect investment focus. I note that he specifically refers to Liverpool among the regions. But, you might get it one day? Put concrete plans on the table, then people might believe it. As it stands I only think of the current set up as a Birmingham, Leeds & Manchester to London (& europe) express.

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