Our latest report High-Speed Rail and Scotland sets out how, through a mixture of new high speed lines and the upgrading of existing lines, joining the route to Scotland would enhance connectivity between the two nations by cutting travel time between London and Scotland to just over three hours; paving the Read more…
Responding to the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) Rail Needs Assessment, which will inform the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan, we have called on the Government to implement a transformative rolling high speed rail programme across Britain. Investment in high speed rail infrastructure, through HS2 and beyond, will be essential to supporting resilience Read more…
The High Speed Rail Group exisits to promote the economic, social and environmental benefits of a HSR network in the UK, and we continue to make the case for the rail and infrastructure sector as high-quality places to work – by promoting best practice on employment, diversity, sustainability and wellbeing. Read more…
The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee recently launched the ‘My BEIS Inquiry’, inviting stakeholders and the wider public to come forward with suggestions for issues the Committee should investigate over the course of this Parliament. The BEIS Committee is open to looking at issues from across the policy remit Read more…
Delivering and future-proofing HS2’s low carbon legacy is complex, but that doesn’t mean the supply chain shouldn’t grab the opportunity, says AECOM’s director of sustainable development Robert Spencer. When the world’s inter-city first steam rail line opened in 1830, running between Liverpool and Manchester, it was welcomed by huge Read more…
Although the Coronavirus crisis has been dominating the headlines, environmental challenges have not gone away. The warm weather that is lifting spirits is also leading scientists to predict that 2020 will be the hottest year on record. Indeed, after the lockdown had already started, the DfT launched a radical consultation to inform its Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP). Calling for less car use and making public transport the first choice for daily travel, it represents a huge change from decades of previous policy.
It is important for HS2 now to rise to this opportunity. In her most recent report, Sadie Morgan, the chair of HS2’s independent design panel, called for more evidence and communication on how net zero is driving HS2 Ltd’s decision-making, calling for action from board level to those working on site. Professor Morgan also sits on the National Infrastructure Commission, which is undertaking a Rail Needs Assessment for the Midlands and the North. Clearly making the carbon case will be important for securing approval for Phase 2b and beyond.
The big challenge here is (more…)
Because of COVID-19, our economy is experiencing an unprecedented shift. Core Cities has drafted a paper which is forming the basis of their discussions with Government on recovery. Recognising that we must do all we can to protect business and jobs, but understanding that business as usual will not return Read more…
The High Speed Rail Group welcome today’s announcement that the Government has issued the formal “Notice to Proceed” (NTP) to allow the construction of HS2 to commence. Following the news, an army of women and men will now set about the task of building Britain’s new north-south railway line with Read more…
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) have announced they are amending their 2020 work programme in response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The CCC will refocus its annual Progress Report to Parliament in June to include advice on supporting a resilient recovery following the pandemic, alongside the statutory assessment of Read more…
Hi, my name is Paddy Tranter, and I am a trainee civil engineer at Eiffage Kier (EK) working on the central sections of phase 1 of HS2. I am 39 years old, so have not come straight out of an educational background. In fact, I previously studied in Archaeology and Read more…