MPs fear worst as transport spending cuts loom
Jun 25 2009 by William Green, The Journal
Minister backs new high-speed network
BRITAIN will build a high-speed rail network linking the country’s major cities, Lord Adonis has declared.
The Transport Secretary yesterday said a global transport revolution was under way as country after country adopted high-speed rail as its next generation "backbone" infrastructure.
"The question is not whether but when and how Britain follows suit," said the Transport Secretary.
He added high-speed rail developments were taking place in France, Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Belgium and the Netherlands – with Britain now at a "turning point" in transport policy.
Lord Adonis also said: "In Europe alone, 3,600 miles of high-speed line are in operation, a further 2,000 are under construction and 5,300 planned - but only 68 of them are in Britain.
"The most significant long-term transport policy decision of the next year will be on taking forward plans for a north-south high-speed rail line."
A key factor in the Government’s decision early next year would be the need for additional transport links between Britain’s "principal" conurbations, said the Transport Secretary.
Lord Adonis is a known supporter of a high speed rail service north out of London. However, such a service will not open for many years and may only run as far as Birmingham or Manchester in the first instance.
