HS2 construction start date confirmed

THE Government has confirmed construction will start on the high-speed rail project HS2 in 2017.

The first phase of the project – expected to take 10 years – will connect London with Birmingham with a second phase providing links to Leeds and Manchester.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill confirmed the start date as changes were unveiled in Parliament to the HS2 hybrid Bill which will be considered by a Select Committee.

Goodwill said: “The changes to the bill show the government is listening to communities along the HS2 route.

“By working together, we can ensure this vital railway is designed in the right way, so we have spades in the ground in 2017 as planned.”

Among the amendments to be put to the Select Committee are changes to the HS2 route near Lichfield, which mean the railway will now pass under the A38, the West Coast Main Line and the South Staffordshire line rather than run over them on viaducts.

The hybrid Bill is likely to achieve Royal Assent by the end of 2016.