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The Association for Consultancy and Engineering has welcomed the government’s go-ahead for a high speed rail line from London to Birmingham.
Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, announced a hybrid bill will be put through Parliament to enable work to begin on phase 1 on HS2 in 2016. It is hoped that phase 2, which will run to Leeds and Manchester, can be completed by 2033.
Nelson Ogunshakin OBE, chief executive of ACE, said: “This is a strong commitment from the government that it will invest in infrastructure to strengthen growth over the long term. The UK has slipped behind international competitors on the quality of its infrastructure and HS2, along with other investment in the National Infrastructure Plan, can help to reverse that.”
The hybrid bill will see the public make petitions to Parliament about HS2 and many groups opposed to the project are expected to explore legal challenges. However, there is broad cross party support for HS2.
Nelson Ogunshakin said: “Industry is pleased to see broad cross-party support for HS2.The Transport Select Committee reported that no alternative to HS2 offered the increased rail capacity and there is general agreement that the project will pay economic dividends. We hope this will see challenges and public concerns resolved quickly and constructively so as to get the project underway without delays.”
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For media enquiries please contact Gavin Pearson (gpearson@acenet.co.uk) (020 7202 0255).
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