Institution of Civil Engineer backs HS2 high-speed link

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The high-speed rail link would be good value for money and encourage long-term economic growth, the Institution of Civil Engineers (Ice) says.

HS2, which would cost a total of £32bn with £17bn spent linking London and Birmingham, is expected to be built by about 2026.

Ice said the proposed route would free up capacity on the UK's "congested" rail network.

Earlier this week, a think tank said the plan was "economically flawed".

A report by the Institute of Economic Affairs said HS2 would require a £1,000 contribution per income taxpayer and was not commercially viable.

'Time to invest'

The high-speed route is set to run through rural parts of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire.

There are also plans for a Y-shaped section taking branches to Manchester, Leeds and possibly further north, which could be finished by 2033.

Many residents against the plans have got together and formed an action group called Stop HS2.

But Ice spokesman Steven Hayter said: "The opportunity should be taken to invest in growth by providing a new railway that is fit for the 21st Century - significantly increasing capacity, strengthening connectivity between Britain's city regions and linking up with the trans-European rail network.

"The time to invest is now and we endorse the government's strategy.

"In addition to better connectivity between regions, the benefit of improved connectivity to the capital should also not be understated.

"Faster, more reliable connections to London could propel a region's economic competitiveness and act as a catalyst for regeneration as city developers, planners and businesses alike take advantage of the opportunities, especially in the Midlands, the North and Scotland.

"We believe the benefits are not limited to those cities served by HS2. Many will benefit from released capacity and significantly improved services on the existing lines, such as communities that are currently not well served by the West Coast main line."