THE Government is set to defy opposition from Conservative MPs and fast track development of the £17bn high speed rail link between Birmingham and London, new Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has said.Still reeling from the debacle surrounding the award of the franchise for the vital West Coast Main Line, Mr McLoughlin indicated in an interview with a national newspaper that the plans for the HS2 link would proceed without any significant alterations.Opposition to the route in Tory heartlands such as Amersham had threat......for the full story register now for free or login below...