Need for speed

PLATFORM for improvement... Phil Woolas welcomes high speed trains

250mph rail link gathers pace

OLDHAM East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas is looking forward to the time when he can reach the House of Commons from his house in Lees just as fast as from his home in London.

The Immigration Minister was speaking after the announcement of a high-speed rail line which will zoom travellers between Manchester and London at 250mph in 80 minutes.

On the platform at Manchester Piccadilly, Mr Woolas said: “Once this line is built, I will be able to get to my office in the Commons from Lees just as quickly as from my place in London.

“Our short-term priority is to get extra carriages for our commuters but long-term, is the capacity of our routes to London.

“The more comfortable and reliable our trains become, the more likely people are to ditch their cars.”

The line will split at Birmingham with one branch heading to Manchester and the other to Leeds. Building would start in 2017.

Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said “it can happen” after travelling to Manchester following the Government’s “Command Paper” response to the High Speed 2 report.

As part of the next stage, the Government has asked for a full public consultation to be held in the autumn.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of the Passenger Focus watchdog, said: “Passengers will welcome this bold plan. In the long-term, more and more people are going to want to use the railway.

“So, a step change in the ability of the network to handle more trains, longer trains and more reliable trains — all key passenger priorities for improvement — is needed now.

“This plan represents an important first step in unlocking this potential, that should also free up more space on the rest of network to handle more regional and local trains.

“More trains arriving on time are now helping to attract more passengers. Add higher speeds to that and a whole new group of passengers could be tempted to use rail.

“The ability to turn up and travel remains a key attraction of Britain’s railway — this new line, with fast frequent services could, with attractive fares, start to revolutionise intercity rail travel.

“The other commitment, that funding will not be diverted from the existing network, is also welcome.”