Birmingham Airport development bolstered by HS2 report

AIRPORT chiefs in Birmingham claim the case for the expansion of the hub has been boosted with the latest development surrounding the future of HS2.

Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport, said the latest comments from HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins had reinforced the business case for the facility.

Sir David has suggested the timetable for the massive project be brought forward by at least six years, with a focus on speeding up the development of the line north of Birmingham.

Kehoe said the report – HS2 Plus – from Sir David was a “great step” forward in strengthening the case for the £50bn rail link.

“His suggestion that work on the northern section should be brought forward would make Birmingham Airport even more accessible from the north, significantly expanding the airport’s passenger catchment earlier than previously expected,” said Kehoe.

“Sir David was right to highlight how the HS2 station at Birmingham Airport will be one of the best connected stations on the network. This is great news for the airport and for the region.

“We welcome Sir David’s emphasis on connectivity and will continue to work with HS2 Ltd to make sure that the potential of the interchange at the airport is maximised to boost the economy of the Midlands and beyond.”

Meanwhile, West Midlands transport authority Centro said Sir David had been right to throw down the gauntlet to the politicians and to call for a re-think over the project’s existing proposals for a limited single track link through north London between HS2 and the existing HS1 line to Europe.

Centro chairman, Cllr John McNicholas, said: “Sir David is quite right to throw down the gauntlet and challenge the nation to build HS2 more quickly.

“Indeed, I believe HS2 cannot come quick enough if we are serious about narrowing the economic gap between London and the rest of the UK.

“HS2 will be a real catalyst for growth and jobs right across the West Midlands and also in our northern cities.”

He said Centro believed the HS1/HS2 link as originally proposed would have limited the number of direct high speed services that could be run from Birmingham and other English cities to key continental destinations like Paris and Brussels.

The transport authority is calling for a fully segregated, twin track tunnel linking HS1/HS2 which it believes would be the best long-term option for providing a robust and future-proofed connection.

Centro is also supporting ongoing market analysis and engineering feasibility work currently being undertaken on such a link by Transport for London.