Political consensus builds behind High Speed Rail

A conference in London last week witnessed a ‘love in’ between the country’s three main political parties on the issue of High Speed Rail. All parties now appear to have accepted that a strong case exists for a new north-south line. James Dark reports on how this consensus has developed, and what factors could yet pull it apart

©www.railimages.co.uk The major lesson from the French TGV is to anticipate the need for expansion

©www.railimages.co.uk The major lesson from the French TGV is to anticipate the need for expansion

Transport minister Andrew Adonis with one of the new bullet trains that will link London and Kent from December. He says the benefits these services will provide "raise points of considerable interest for the development of High Speed 2"

Transport minister Andrew Adonis with one of the new bullet trains that will link London and Kent from December. He says the benefits these services will provide "raise points of considerable interest for the development of High Speed 2"

According to transport minister Andrew Adonis, there are a number of crucial Terms of Engagement that transport ministers observe when attending rail industry events. Top of the list are: “leave as soon as practical after your speech” and “avoid contact, let alone debate, with spokespeople from the other political parties”.

However, as Adonis said last week, with regard to new north-south rail route High Speed Two, he intends to break these rules as a matter of course....