Grayling: High speed line will not be derailed
TRANSPORT Secretary Chris Grayling has confirmed that the Government is committed to HS2 – saying “we’ve started working already”.
The Government cabinet minister was in Birmingham on the campaign trail with Conservative West Midlands Mayor candidate Andy Street ahead of this Thursday’s vote.
Mr Grayling confirmed Government’s backing both HS2 and the expansion of tram network.
There had been doubts raised as a series of Conservative backbenchers representing countryside seats affected by the high speed rail attempted to push the for the ministers into a U-turn ahead of the publication of the new Conservative manifesto.
But Mr Grayling was adamant that HS2 remained the key transport project for the nation and the Government would not be cutting its losses.
He said: “Work has already started. As we speak today there are early works taking place.
“Contracts are let, there are pre-works to set up construction compounds and some of the advance works up and down the route so it’s not a question of it going to happen or not. It’s happening now.
“We haven’t opened a college in Birmingham to close it down again.
“We were due in about three weeks time to be holding a formal start of works ceremony, but that has been derailed by the election. Hopefully we’ll still be in power and that will happen after the election. It is one of those rumours which crop up from time to time.”
He dismissed recent criticism from Labour that the Government has invested heavily in London’s Crossrail and new Thames crossing while the regions like the West Midlands are at the back of the queue.
He said: “I respond with three letters – HS2. It is the biggest investment in a transport project this country has made in decades and Birmingham is at the heart of the network.
“We have a depot in Birmingham, a college, two stations, the interchange with Birmingham Airport - this is a massive investment in transport for the West Midlands.”
He added that it will also ease congestion on existing rail lines in the region.
Mr Grayling also talked about the new West Midlands Rail franchise, particularly the introduction of longer trains to increase capacity.