High speed rail plans gather steam

Plans to build a high speed rail network in Britain are gathering steam, with the government to publish its proposal by Easter.

Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis was yesterday appointed chairman of a new National Networks Strategy Group that will look at increasing capacity on motorways and drawing up plans for high speed rail lines.

Senior figures from Network Rail, the Highways Agency and the Treasury will sit on the group.

Lord Adonis told the Times there was a strong case for linking large cities including Birmingham, London and Manchester with express services on dedicated lines.

He envisages linking Heathrow to the network and constructing a rail hub with 12 platforms near the airport to allow airline passengers to transfer to trains going across Europe and the UK.

He said it would take up to 20 years to design, plan and build a new rail line.