March 11 2010

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has unveiled plans for a high-speed rail link connecting Birmingham to London.

A public consultation will now be held over the recommended route for the 250mph line and future extensions to northern England and Scotland.

London Euston would provide the southern terminus for the line with a station being created at Birmingham’s Curzon Street and the line would interchange with Heathrow via the under construction Crossrail line west of Paddington.

There is cross party consensus for the new line as a means to boost growth and reduce carbon emissions from short haul flights, although differences remain over the exact route.

Campaigners are angered by the potential impact on the Chiltern Hills, one of 40 areas of outstanding natural beauty in Britain.

Funding remains problematical as well with threadbare public coffers already struggling to maintain investment in the existing rail network.

Work is unlikely to start on the line until 2017 at the earliest.

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