High-speed rail connection demanded by rail boss

Jan 26 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

FASTER links from Liverpool to London could be on the cards after the head of Network Rail proposed a new high-speed rail link to serve the North West.

Chief executive Iain Croucher said Britain must build a network of high-speed lines by 2020 to stop existing services from being overwhelmed, and to offer a greener alternative to air travel.

One line was from London to Glasgow via Birmingham and Manchester, boasting trains as fast as 200mph.

Liverpool’s existing rail links to Manchester mean the fast train service is likely to bring economic benefits to the city.

The Government came under fire in the autumn after suggest-ing any high-speed rail link from London would run only as far Birmingham – not to the North.

Network Rail will commission a detailed study soon into possible routes for the network, after becoming frustrated by the Department for Transport’s lack of progress on the issue.

The Labour manifesto for the 2005 General Election promised to look at the feasibility and afford-ability of a new North-South link.

Despite admitting existing lines will struggle to cope with demand, the Government has said it will not make a decision until 2012.

Mr Croucher fears this could be too late as high-speed lines take a decade to plan and build, with capacity due to run out by 2015.

In October, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said for the first time that the long-promised line might link London and Birmingham only. This contradicted Network Rail’s original proposal for a line to connect London to Scotland in just 2hrs 35mins, with a possible link to Liverpool.

Mr Croucher said: “We will need something up the West Coast by 2015, 2020 time.

“That’s why we think it’s better to think about how we’re doing it now. We need to find a way of delivering this cost-effectively to minimise the draw on the public purse.”

Passenger numbers on inter-city trains grew by almost 10% last year. They are expected to break through the 100m mark in 2008. A study last year by rail industry leaders found the greatest need for a new line was between London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Passenger Focus, the govern-ment-funded rail passenger watchdog, agreed with Mr Croucher.

Chief executive Anthony Smith said: “We are very concerned the Government’s growth predictions are pessimistic.”

alanweston