Comment Crucial steps show HS2 is on track

thousands of extra train seats for passengers, reduce crowding on the existing rail network and create thousands of jobs. The new HS2 Bill introduced into Parliament will enable us to get the Birmingham to Crewe stretch of HS2 built by 2027 - six years earlier than first planned.

The newly announced HS2 engineering contracts are also good news for Birmingham. Not only do they show that the main construction works are just months away, they are also an opportunity for more Birmingham-based jobs. We have already moved HS2’s 1,000-strong headquarters to the Snow Hill district.

In September, we will open the National College for High Speed Rail in Birmingham, which will give its graduates the skills they need to build HS2. Now, the multi-billion pound contracts we announced are a great opportunity for smaller Birmingham-based firms to bid for work on the project.

Of course, while our chosen route will be good news for many, for some it will be confirmation their homes or businesses are directly in the path of the new line or are nearby.

So we have also introduced property compensation schemes that go well beyond what is required by law. Depending on the distance of the property from the HS2 route, eligible property owners can either claim a cash sum or have their property bought by the Government.

The three big steps taken by HS2 last week show the project is on track and making progress. Birmingham will be at the heart of a new high-capacity rail network that will more than double the number of seats to London Euston during rush hour. Places further afield will benefit too.

Thanks to the extra capacity HS2 will create, more than 100 towns and cities across the country should see better services on their existing rail links. HS2 is good news for Birmingham and the recent steps forward bring HS2’s benefits even closer. Chris Grayling is the Secretary of

State for Transport