Rail operator Network Rail unveiled plans on Wednesday for a 34 billion pound high-speed rail link from London to the north of Britain that would halve journey times to Scotland to just over two hours. The 200 mph (320 kph) route would run direct from the capital to Manchester in the north west and then proceed through Preston to the Scottish border, where it would split and reach twin terminals in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Spur lines would take passengers to Birmingham in the west Midlands and to Liverpool in the north west. Network Rail said the high speed line could run up to 16 trains an hour from London to Scotland, and four trains an hour between regional cities. The plans come as the government awaits separate proposals due in December from High Speed 2, a company it set up earlier this year to draw up detailed plans for a fast north-south rail link.
"We need to start the planning now to meet future demand, and the solution is a new high-speed railway to the Midlands, the North West and Scotland," said Network Rail Chief Executive Iain Coucher. "The line has a sound business case that will pay for itself." Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis said High Speed 2 would take "full account" of Network Rail's research.