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date 9 September 2013 source Network Rail type Press release
Network Rail group strategy director Paul Plummer said: “HS2 is absolutely vital for the future of Britain’s rail network.
“Unprecedented growth in the last ten years has seen the number of passenger journeys increase by 50 per cent to almost 1.5bn a year and demand continues to grow. We are already delivering the biggest capacity improvement programme since the Victorian era, but even this is not enough. Without HS2, the West Coast Main Line – our busiest and most economically important line – will be full in a little over a decade.
“The alternative schemes offer some incremental benefits but they would be a costly and disruptive short-term fix. There is already a critical shortage of space at the southern end of the West Coast Main Line and we need a step-change in capacity if we are to meet future demand. The only way to solve this is to build a new line.
“HS2 offers a rare chance to stop playing catch-up on rail capacity. If we get ahead of the game we can create huge opportunities for growth and connectivity while providing the capacity we need for the future.”
