Leeds to Manchester in under 30 mins proposal

[SF07]

MP's in the north are hoping for a plan to introduce a 'Crossrail of the North' will be approved by the government. The plan sees new high-speed tracks being used on the Huddersfield line between Leeds and Manchester Piccadilly, which could see journeys of around 25 minutes between the two cities and speeds of upto 200mph.

Senior Transport Department figures are understood to support the plan, providing they get backing from the Treasury. If approved, it could be ready in just over a decade.

This comes after the Tories came up with the idea last month of high-speed rail links to be introduced instead of a 3rd runway at Heathrow. They say that Leeds-Manchester could be done in 17 minutes. The Lib-Dems also back the idea of high-speed trains.

Whether it happens under Labour, well don't hold your breath!

Crossrail of the North article: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1101103_manchester_to_leeds_in_25_minutes_
Tories proposal: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7882144.stm

[Craig]

Whether it happens under any government, don't hold your breath!!

[guyarab]

Bet these won't stop at Dewsbury either!

[Steve Macz403]

haha i'd like to see 200mph past dewsbury or huddersfield or even Marsden ;D. Dont know how they'd modify the line from Huddersfield to Stalybridge, gonna be lots of Disruptions round the pennines.

Another one that would be good is the Leeds- York section. and the Leeds-Doncaster via wakefield westgate would be the best lines to upgrade, as their already fast sections along these parts.

[SF07]

Still not time to get the party poppers out yet, but a step, albeit small, forward has been made, with ministers giving their support to the plans. Lord Adonis, Transport Minister, has asked High Speed 2 to draw up the proposals of extending the high-speed services into Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and the North East. Orginal proposals saw high speed links from London to Birmingham and Scotland.

HS2 will start discussions next year, after reporting on the London-Birmingham route. And it is still believed that the link could be ready within a decade.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1101542_ministers_back_200mph_rail_link_