THE transport secretary Lord Adonis has published plans for a 540km High Speed network, linking London with the West and East Midlands, Manchester and Leeds, with 400km/h High Speed trains continuing 'from the outset’ to Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The proposals follow the report on domestic High Speed rail which was prepared by the government company HS2 and send under wraps to the transport secretary at the end of 2009.

The plans, which form a White Paper, include an estimate that a 540km network would cost £30 billion.

Lord Adonis said there were six reasons for High Speed Rail, including relief for the congested West Coast Main Line, faster journey times between London and key centres elsewhere in Britain, and improved connectivity.

He added: “The London terminus for the high speed line would be Euston; the Birmingham City Centre station would be at Curzon Street; and there would be interchange stations with Crossrail west of Paddington and near Birmingham Airport.  HS2 Ltd’s recommended line of route between London and Birmingham is also published today; the Government endorses this route, subject to further work which I have commissioned on mitigation, and to subsequent public consultation. HS2 Ltd’s recommended route would pass in tunnel from Euston to the Crossrail Interchange west of Paddington. It would leave London via the Ruislip area, making use of an existing rail corridor. It would then pass by Amersham in tunnel towards Aylesbury, before following the route of the A413 past Wendover.

“North of the Chilterns, the recommended route would follow in part the disused Great Central rail alignment before passing Brackley and entering Warwickshire. It would then skirt to the east of Birmingham, to enter the city via a short link, alongside an existing rail line, beginning in the Water Orton area, with the main line extending north to the West Coast Main Line near Lichfield.”

He also said the case for an additional station at Heathrow Airport ‘appears weak’, and concluded: “High speed rail is a policy of huge strategic significance for the country.  The time has come to create a credible plan, and for this to be a national cause.”

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