TUESDAY 30th NOVEMBER 2010

Connectivity Unlimited

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Government to announce preferred high speed rail route before Christmas

• Secretary of State for Transport says Birmingham Eastside will be placed “at the heart of British national transport infrastructure” 
• Asserts that high speed rail can “tackle the North-South divide”
• Pledges to personally monitor plans to mitigate negative impacts of the new rail route
• Urges business leaders to “speak up and speak out” for High Speed 2

The government’s preferred route for a high speed rail line connecting London to Birmingham and the North of England will be announced before Christmas, the Secretary of State for Transport said today.

Speaking at a business debate on High Speed 2 sponsored by Business Birmingham at Birmingham’s NEC conference centre, Philip Hammond MP pledged to personally monitor plans to mitigate negative impacts of the new rail route, while urging business leaders to “speak up and speak out” for the railway line.

Senior representatives of the British Chambers of Commerce, CBI and IoD attended the debate, as well as business leaders from the West Midlands and the North of England, and there was strong and broad support for plans to develop a high speed rail network that also links to High Speed 1 and continental Europe. Known opponents to the scheme were also invited to share their views.

Phillip Hammond moved to assuage concerns about home and business owners who will be affected by the route, explaining details about the Exceptional Hardship Scheme that has been launched to compensate people in special circumstances who need to sell their home or business now.

He also explained that subsequent compensation schemes that the Government will introduce should a route be safeguarded will go beyond statutory requirements – so that home and business owners who are not required to move to accommodate the new line may also be compensated if the value of their properties or businesses is diminished.

Mr Hammond reaffirmed that High Speed 2 plays a central role in government transport policy and explained how the project fits into wider plans to rebalance the economy, asserting that high speed rail can help tackle the North-South divide. He also said that the project will put Birmingham’s Eastside, where a high speed rail station is expected, at the heart of British national transport infrastructure.

High Speed 2 contributed to the government’s decision not to expand airports in the South East of England and Mr Hammond spoke of a “modal shift” towards better use of rail. The Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport, Paul Kehoe, also spoke at the debate and described how high speed rail will effectively “move the airport 70 miles closer to central London, placing it somewhere near Edgware on the Northern Line”. Journey times from London to the airport are expected to be cut to about 35 minutes when the new rail line is opened.

Other speakers at the debate included Paul Thandi, Chief Executive of NEC Group and Simon Topman, Chairman of the West Midlands Chambers of Commerce. The debate was chaired by the BBC’s Political Editor, Midlands, Patrick Burns.

The Government will consult the New Year on a ‘Y’ shaped high speed rail network with separate legs from the West Midlands to Manchester and Leeds. The preferred route for the first leg between London and Birmingham will be part of this consultation.