A spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies said: “High speed rail forms an important part of ensuring that the UK can meet the transport challenges the country will face in the future.”
“Demand for rail travel is expected to double in the coming decades and intercity routes are beginning to fill up as more and more people choose to travel by train. A new high speed line, alongside sustained investment in the existing network, is key if we are to meet the significant growth in passenger numbers that is expected in the years ahead.”
