Proposals for a high speed rail network announced yesterday by Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis, have received a mixed reaction from business leaders and environmental campaign groups.
The Government’s proposals for of a 335 mile 'Y'-shaped
rail network would, it claims, bring the West Midlands within about half an hour of London, and deliver journey times of 75 minutes or less from Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester to the capital.
"Over the next 20 to 30 years the UK will require a step-change in
transport capacity and connectivity both to promote and respond to long-term economic growth,” said Lord Adonis yesterday.
“However, this must be delivered sustainably, without unacceptable environmental impacts, and in line with the Government’s strategy to promote a low carbon economy.
"High speed
rail would be by far the most effective way to achieve this step-change, offering a balance of capacity, connectivity and sustainability benefits unmatched by any other option.”
High speed rail link from London to BirminghamThe first phase of the programme would link London with Birmingham and yesterday the Government published details of the route recommended by the company it set up in 2009 to advise on high speed rail services between London and
Scotland, High Speed Two Ltd (HS2 Ltd).
The Government will be putting this route forward for public consultation this autumn “following the completion of further work on mitigating specific impacts on the local environment and communities.”
But according to senior transport campaigner at the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Ralph Smyth, the proposed route needs more than “fine tuning”.
Concerns over impact of rail network on countryside“By using existing and disused transport corridors as well as tunnelling, the impact on the Chilterns is less than feared,” he conceded. “But the impact on Warwickshire, where the line is proposed to run through open countryside, is a major concern.”
He added that, as with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, will be important to get local people on board – to “turn a contentious route into something that works both national and locally.”
Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins also emphasised the importance of minimising the impact on communities and the environment and expressed concern that the programme, as it stands, will have a minimal impact on reducing
carbon emissions – and may even increase them.
Carbon emissions impact of rail link "broadly neutral"HS2’s own assessment of the potential carbon implications of the London to Birmingham line is that that it is likely to be broadly neutral – a change in average annual emissions in a range from -0.41 to +0.44 million tonnes, equivalent to just +/-0.3 per cent of current annual transport emissions.
There would also be some carbon emitted as a result of construction, although HS2 suggests this would not be significant in the context of the UK’s overall emissions.
Where the Government expects to make savings in carbon emissions is in getting cars off the road. It points out that around 90 per cent of carbon emissions are generated by road transport.
But Friends of the Earth’s Atkins questions whether the Government’s current approach will make the emissions reductions needed to meet its targets.
"Major changes to Government transport policy are required to ensure that this huge project plays its part in a low carbon future,” he said.
Scrap plans for new runways and roads"Ministers must scrap plans for new runways and roads and ensure that rail travel is the most cost-effective and convenient option for long-distance travel throughout the UK and into Europe.”
Atkins repeated Friends of the Earth’s long-held concern that the new high speed trains will only be as green as the power source that fuels them, and called for the urgent development of a low carbon electricity grid.
He added: "The new rail link must not come at the expense of other low carbon transport schemes like buses, existing rail services and measures to encourage walking and cycling and Government funding for these must be protected.”
John Cridland, deputy director general of the CBI, while welcoming the Government’s “visionary thinking”, expressed other concerns – particularly about who would be picking up the tab.
CBI calls for open consultation on private funding“Private sector support for the concept of high speed rail should not be misread as a willingness to write a blank cheque – at a time of severely stretched public finances a full and open consultation on private funding will be essential,” he warned.
“Equally, high speed rail must not be allowed to drain
investment from other transport priorities.”
Formal public consultation on the recommended route option, and the Government’s proposed strategy on high speed rail, will begin in this autumn. Depending on the outcome, the plan is that construction will start after the Crossrail scheme is completed from 2017 with the high speed network opening in phases from 2026.
Related news:Green rail newsRelated links:www.hs2.org.uk