COMMENT
Above: Projected train paths for the HS2 Y network, courtesy DfT and HS2 Ltd.
Partnership Group declaring that work could begin in Scotland before England, and the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, Alex Neil, proposing to “engage fully” with HS2 Ltd and the DfT to agree a joint working plan.
He said: “Let there be no doubt, Scotland is ready to take its share of the hard work and stand together in its support for high speed rail.”
He added: “HS2 is not about the value of shaving 25 minutes between [London] and Birmingham, it’s about building rail capac- ity that will benefit the whole of the UK. Planning must therefore include Scotland from the very beginning – it is not accept- able to consider Scotland’s requirements after the hybrid bill stages for London-Bir- mingham or Birmingham-Manchester and Leeds – that could be an entire generation away.”
Mills detected a “shift in tone” from the UK Government on the possibility of an early link up of high speed rail between England and Scotland, prompted by the enthusiasm of the Scottish Government.
She said: “There’s a huge amount of convic- tion in Scotland about the necessity of high speed rail. I think the DfT now looks as if it’s willing to engage with Transport Scot- land, now we’ve made the decision on HS2.
“We’ve got over one hurdle and are now
Above: Projected train paths after HS2 phase 1 is complete, courtesy DfT and HS2 Ltd
certain we’re proceeding with the project, so it’s a bit easier to think ahead to what else might be done with the high speed rail network and to take a longer-term view. That’s why I think the tone has changed a little bit in the last month or so.
“Hopefully we are going to get that engage- ment between Westminster and Holyrood, and start developing some constructive plans. I know the Scots are keen to start building as soon as HS2 starts build- ing. If we’ve got an overall plan, then why
shouldn’t we start to build some bits earlier? If we can relieve a capacity pinch point in Scotland and achieve some journey time benefits – and if that section of the route can eventually become part of a wider high speed network – then bril- liant, let’s go for it.”
Julie Mills
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
opinion@railtechnologymagazine.com
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