Transport Secretary confirms HS2 routes

The Transport Secretary has confirmed the HS2 rail lines between Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and the East Midlands.

The decision will mean new connections between Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and the East Midlands – with all of them being linked to London by the line.

The new route is expected to free up thousands of extra seats and additional services on local lines.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said HS2 would provide a major economic boost to areas of the country outside of London and the south-east.

Mr Grayling commented: “As well as creating skilled jobs, apprenticeships and business opportunities, it will also mean real day-to-day improvements for people across the country.

“By building a whole new railway line for high-speed intercity connections, we will free up local services, meaning more comfort, more seats and more trains for passengers across the north and the midlands.

“We will now press ahead with building the line, while continuing to ensure affected communities get appropriate support and are treated with fairness, compassion and respect.”

The new routes will, however, mean that newly built homes in Yorkshire must be demolished to make way for the new line.

The Shimmer housing estate in Mexborough will see 16 out of the 216 homes forced to make way – a number that is being disputed by the residents affected.

The government has said that it will work with local residents to enable residents to be compensated to a level where they would be able to purchase a comparable home locally.

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