HS2 gets the go-ahead

• Mar. 12 by Clare Anne (3)

The high-speed rail link between Birmingham and London has been given the go ahead, it was confirmed this week.

The train, which Birmingham Recycled reported on last week, is set to connect the West Midlands with almost anywhere in the UK including Manchester, Scotland and potentially even Paris.

It has been reported that construction for the high-speed link, daubed HS2, will begin in 2017 and cost anything up to a cool £30billion.

In terms of the effects on Birmingham, the new information unveils plans to re-open the old Curzon Street railway station in the City Centre, and create a link between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill stations.

BBC News also reported that the HS2 lines would create some 10,000 jobs within the Midlands.

The BBC also reported that ticket prices for the 45minute journey to London from Birmingham would be 20% more than what commuters pay now – which can be anything up to £100.

While these factors all have a positive effect on the Midlands, it is easy to forget the ‘green’ implications of the route and the construction.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth have already expressed concern over the plans for HS2 and its potential environmental impact, but the question remains what Network Rail are proposing to do to ensure the construction is as ‘green’ and ‘eco-friendly’ as possible.

Network Rail declined the offer of an interview and simply said:

‘Network Rail is not proposing any particular route for the line, and so we have not taken any ‘green ‘ issues into consideration. This will be the responsibility of HS2.’