2M Group Calls for Review of Rail Schemes

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Alternatives to Heathrow expansion must be "value for money"

The 2M Group of local authorities concerned about the environmental impact of Heathrow expansion is calling for an independent review of two high speed rail schemes.

The Network Rail plan, published last week, and the HS2 scheme would each cost around £30bn to build.

HS2 would create a direct high speed rail link to Heathrow from Birmingham, while the Network Rail scheme would follow the West Coast Main Line, with no connection to Heathrow.

2M has published a series of ten environmental and value for money tests which it say could be applied to any high speed rail project.

The group, which includes Hammersmith and Fulham council, wants the two projects to be tested alongside its own scheme – High Speed North - which would follow the M1 to the East Midlands and the North.

It would include connections to Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool from its north-south spine and like the other two proposals, High Speed North would also cost around £30bn.

Wandsworth Council leader Edward Lister, speaking on behalf of 2M, says: " The value for money tests are critical. If we want to maximise the economic impact on the UK regions then we need an inclusive route that benefits as many cities as possible on both the east and west side of the country.

“We also need to start with the clear aim of building a route that serves England and Scotland. The current enthusiasm for a Heathrow-Birmingham link is short-termist. There may never be the demand to make this route pay, at which point the case for a national network could be set back a generation."

2M’s rail adviser Colin Elliff has published his own detailed appraisal of the different high speed options called Heathrow and High Speed Rail, which can be viewed at 2M's website.

September 3, 2009