Trains, not planes: Tories promise high-speed line

摘要

The Conservative Party has pledged to build a North-South high-speed railway instead of a third runway at Heathrow airport. The news was announced on September 28 by Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers. The ￡15bn-to-￡20bn scheme would essentially be the one projected by Greengauge 21 (The RM, Jan p23) and run from St Pancras to Heathrow and then on to Birmingham and Manchester with the addition of Leeds. It would negate the need for 60,000 domestic flights a year. Work would start in 2015 if the Tories win the next election but completion is not envisaged until 2027 "We agonized over whether to commit ourselves to the scheme, but concluded that it was important to keep the economy competitive," she said, adding: "So often in this nation's history, new transport links have helped push forward progress and prosperity.