UK-wide high-speed rail link is ‘rocket fuel’ for economy
BRITAIN’S economy would have “rocket fuel” put into it by 2050 with a nationwide high-speed rail network, says a leading transport think tank.
Trains doing up to 250mph to cities all over the UK such as Bristol, Cardiff and Edinburgh would reduce reliance on London and revitalise every region, according to a report by Greengauge 2.
It would also cut road traffic and shrink a long-standing productivity gap with countries such as Germany, Italy and France, the group believes. HS2 is a planned high-speed link from London to Birmingham and on to Manchester and Leeds, expected to open from 2026. Unveiling the Beyond HS2 report, Greengauge 21 director Jim Steer said: “We need a plan to put rocket fuel into our economic productivity. It is vital no region is left behind.”