High Speed Two needs to hurry up

We desperately need a high speed rail link to link our major cities and reduce overcrowding on regular lines. But after years of talk, who is going to put money where their mouth is and start building?

The Conservative policy on transport says that they will “build a high-speed rail line connecting London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds with the Continent through the Channel Tunnel” if they win the next election. Labour have also promised something similar.

There are two main plans for the line. One by Greengauge 21 and another by Network Rail, amongst others. Both widely accept that an initial line from London to Birmingham and then onto the north-west and scotland, using high-speed stations at Heathrow and either a central London terminus or using the existing international station at Stratford for transfer.

Whilst most of Europe are expanding the network of high-speed rail, we’re stuck with a piddly 67miles of track that link none of our own major cities. Granted, being in Paris in 2hrs 15 is just brilliant, but we should be able to hop on a train in Manchester, and 4 hours later be in Amsterdam, without having to change once. Although border controls may have to be loosened if that were ever to happen.

Politicians talk, and rail enthusiasts just dream, but no-one is laying any track yet. We need to be part of this highspeed system. In France the domestic airline business has died on its arse thanks to the wonderful TGVs, as has the number of flights linking Madrid and Barcalona when the rail link opened there. It would facilitate business and growth in the regions if they were linked from city centre to city centre with London and the continent, without paying ransom money to slow, overcrowded train operating companies who fleece travellers.

Sort it out Britain!