Minister hails ‘vote of confidence’ in high-speed rail link

Mr Hammond attended last night’s launch of the Campaign for High Speed Rail, which is seeking to challenge opposition to the £30bn scheme that could cut up to 45 minutes off journey times from Leeds and South Yorkshire to London.

“This is a huge vote of confidence in our plans for High Speed Rail and demonstrates that the people who will drive our economy in the coming years understand the vital importance of good transport links,” said Mr Hammond. “A new railway was always going to create opposition from the people who live closest to it, but this shows the level of national support that there is for more and quicker trains between our major cities.”

Mr Hammond has been a key supporter of the high-speed rail project, which will see a first phase link London and Birmingham before two branches north, one via South Yorkshire to Leeds and the other to the north west. The route to Yorkshire would not be completed until the 2030s but would see journeys from Leeds to London cut to just 80 minutes with trains travelling at 225mph.

Critics are, however, mounting a vocal campaign particularly in the Chilterns where there is anger about the damage to the environment which will be caused by the route of the first phase.

David Begg, director for the Campaign for High Speed Rail, said: “It is time people realised the opportunities high-speed rail will bring to millions across Britain. If we invest today in cities like Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and others in between, we will benefit for many decades to come.”