Time for a Birmingham to Brussels Bullet Train says MEP.
January 6, 2009 4:27 PM
Birmingham and West Midlands Euro- MP Liz Lynne has said that plans floated by Transport Minster Lord Adonis for a possible high speed rail link between London and Birmingham should focus on plugging Birmingham into the existing Eurostar link to the continent.
Lord Adonis has suggested that a 200 mph train line, similar to the bullet trains in Japan could be used to connect Birmingham to London by 2015.
Liz Lynne has been a long time supporter of high speed rail links from Birmingham, which would provide a great boost to the local business within the conurbation and the rest of the West Midlands region.
Speaking today, Liz said that as well as a high speed service to the capital, any new link must plug Birmingham into the continent's high speed train network via the new Eurostar line to the Channel Tunnel, which opened last year.
Liz said:
"Birmingham is a world class city but for years has been denied a world class public transport system. We need the city to be connected to the rest of Europe in order to encourage business, investment and trade.
"That is why linking Birmingham to the Channel Tunnel using high speed rail is so important. Imagine being able to get on a train at New Street and be in the centre of Paris or Brussels within three hours, quicker than air travel and far less carbon intensive.
"A link targeting short distance air travel would also free up capacity at Birmingham Airport for long distance routes and remove the need for a third runway at Heathrow.
"I am pleased that ministers have finally realised the value of high speed rail, but it is vital that any new link is not just a London - Birmingham shuttle but gives our region access not just to London, but to the rest of Europe as well. The link should also be extended northwards to Stoke and the North West to free up the congested West Coast main line.
"With the Conservatives also recently U turning and claiming to support a new high speed line, perhaps at last there can be some concrete progress on making this link happen. It would transform our transport system for good and be a massive boost to our economy, as well as help the environment."
ENDS
Notes: The Paris to Brussels High Speed THALYS service is now so successful that there are no scheduled air services between the two cities. Eurostar already carries over half the total traffic from London to Paris to Brussels, with a huge increase in market share since the new high speed line to St Pancras opened last year.
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