Decision to build HS2 is ‘tremendous boost for West Midlands’

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The Transport Secretary’s decision to build HS2 from London to Birmingham has been hailed as a ‘tremendous boost’ for the West Midlands by regional leaders.

Key figures from pro-high speed rail consortium Go-HS2, which include Birmingham City Council, transport authority Centro, Birmingham Chamber, NEC Group, Birmingham Airport and Marketing Birmingham, said the go-ahead for the project would mean thousands of jobs and a boost of billions of pounds for the West Midlands economy.

Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said:

“The go-ahead for HS2 provides probably the single most important opportunity for economic growth in this region for generations.

“The benefits for Birmingham and the West Midlands are clear and unquestionable – job creation, increased productivity and greater investor appeal, all of which will ultimately bring direct benefits to families who live and work in the region.

“It’s great news that we’re taking advantage of this tremendous opportunity to invest for the future and build a 21st century high speed transport system which will link us more easily to the key markets and cities right across Europe.”

Geoff Inskip, chief executive of Centro, said that building HS2 would revolutionise travel and bring about tremendous opportunities for transport in the West Midlands.

“This is great news for families across our region which has been hit hard by unemployment in the recession. We now look forward to working with the Government to ensure the West Midlands can reap the full rewards HS2 will bring.”

Mr Inskip said it was important that Government worked closely with groups and individuals to reduce impact on the environment and people’s lives.

Jerry Blackett, chief executive at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, said:

“We applaud the Secretary of State’s decision to back HS2. Transport is vital if we are to grow our economy and ensure businesses can access markets reliably and quickly.

“HS2 is clearly the only viable solution to the looming capacity constraints on the West Coast Mainline and we are pleased that Justine Greening has backed jobs and growth by backing HS2.

“We have spent two year’s consulting on the idea so let’s get the legislation through parliament as quickly as possible.”

Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport, said:

“HS2 is great news for the region, great news for UK Plc, and great news for Birmingham Airport.

“Other countries, such as Germany, have a ‘multi-hub’ airport model – they link their major airports with High Speed Rail, and spread the economic activity. They do not stick to the old-fashioned model of just one major airport.

“With the UK Government’s aspiration to rebalance the economy, Birmingham and other Airports will benefit from HS2, whilst taking the pressure off the south east and creating jobs for many thousands of people.

“Birmingham Airport station will be the hub of the High Speed network – placing Birmingham Airport less than an hour from the great majority of the UK population.”

Neil Rami, head of Business Birmingham, the city’s inward investment programme operated by Marketing Birmingham, said:

“Aided by the significant transport investment already taking place in Birmingham – including the £600 million New Street Gateway and the expansion of Birmingham Airport – HS2 will help attract overseas investors looking for a gateway to the rest of the UK and Europe and maintain Birmingham’s profile as a global business hub.”

Paul Thandi, CEO of the NEC Group, said:

“It’s fantastic news to hear that HS2 has been given the green light. High speed rail is of great significance to not only our business, but the West Midlands and the UK’s future economy – undoubtedly helping with the economic recovery over the next decade – so we wholeheartedly support this decision.”

2 COMMENTS

  1. HS2: An ambitious project for an ambition-less nation- a nation set on promoting ambitious foreign countries’ rail and high-technology firms at the expense of developing indigenous British public (& commercial goods) transport research & development, design and manufacturing capabilities which are aimed at export markets!!

    HS2: a 190 mile-long showpiece and ‘mega-pedestal’ for what will be perceived (and promoted internationally) as entirely non-UK engineering and manufacturing skills and expertise…

    France and Germany’s indigenous high-technology design and manufacturing industries will be the chief beneficiaries of any high-speed rail lines- as presently proposed- within the UK…

    … while the UK’s own companies’ design, innovation and manufacturing capabilities in public & commercial-goods transport sectors will be grievously damaged…

    Has the country lost its collective mind??
    ——————

    What part of the coalition govt’s planned High-speed 2 (HS-2) high-speed rail project will lead to UK exports of rail and public-transport related equipment and systems??

    Instead of going ahead with HS2 as currently planned, wouldn’t it be far better public policy and use of tax-payers’ funds for govt to put monies towards remedying the well-known shortcomings of the UK’s existing rail and road networks AND ALSO developing indigenous UK rail transport research & development, design and manufacturing capabilities- if necessary working in collaboration with proven-as-competent, successful firm(s) such as Hitachi and Kawasaki???

    UK CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR PUBLIC & COMMERCIAL-GOODS TRANSPORT NEEDED!!

    Mr. Roderick V. Louis,
    Vancouver, BC, Canada

  2. UK CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR PUBLIC & COMMERCIAL-GOODS TRANSPORT NEEDED!!

    What part of the coalition govt’s planned High-speed 2 (HS-2) high-speed rail project will lead to UK exports of rail and public-transport related equipment and systems??

    Improving the UK’s rail systems is an unassailable objective for UK industry and govt…

    But putting the best British minds to work- preferably in collaboration with overseas partners- on the designing of rail-related products that eventually end up on and part of the UK’s rail systems ought to be an integral part of this objective…

    Ensuring that these products and their underlying technologies- if necessary in adapted formats
    have significant potential for export– should be as well.

    In terms of long-term industrial strategies, the establishment of facilities in the UK to assemble new trains/rail-related hardware for the country is less than 1/2 of what industry leaders and govt officials ought to be aiming for…

    The creation of a self-sustaining rail technology (and public/commercial goods transport) research and development centre in the UK is needed just as much…

    The likelihood of EU member nations (and places such as India) that are upgrading their rail systems buying from the UK would be greatly increased if products and systems marketed are perceived to be coming out of a creditable, cutting-edge technology joint-venture- with its own well resourced, demonstrably functional R & D centre….

    It could only make constructive sense for some of the next 1/2 decade’s govt spending- perhaps collaboratively with overseas mega-corporations’ contributions- to be put towards the establishment of a rail transport R & D technology centre/campus in the UK… if necessary with the UK govt as a temporary minor shareholder in the venture….

    Such a centre/campus comprising significant representation from a world-class rail technology leader such as Hitachi and/or Kawasaki, along with a leading UK firm that has leading-edge complimentary technology expertise- such as Rolls-Royce- would be one way of providing the new centre/campus with automatic positive world-recognition…

    An internationally recognized-as-competent UK company such as a Rolls-Royce, BAE, GKN or VT paired with an effervescent and capable international partner- such as a Hitachi and/or Kawasaki- and their huge depth of transport-technology R & D resources- would immeasurably strengthen the viability and export-related potential of a UK based “world centre” for rail-transport technology research & development…..

    In addition to the construction of new facilities in the UK to assemble rail-transport products and related hardware, a ‘World-Centre-of-excellence’ for rail-and-public-transport research and development’ type facility in the UK ought to be expeditiously actioned….

    Roderick V. Louis,
    Vancouver, BC, Canada

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