Unions welcome new fast-speed rail plans

Plans announced by the government could see journey times from London to Birmingham cut to under one hour, with trains able to seat over a 1,000 passengers.

However the first sections of track are not expected to go live until 2025 at the earliest.

Opposition is also expected from Tory heartlands in the Chiltern Hills area of Buckinghamshire.

The government-commissioned High Speed Two body has completed a costed, highly detailed plan for a London to Birmingham route, with options for taking it north to Scotland.

Unite union deputy general secretary Jack Dromey said the plan was imperative for the future of manufacturing in Britain.

"Tens of thousands of jobs will be created and 21st century communications will open up the regions to much-needed development and investment," he said.

"British manufacturing must benefit. High-speed trains in Britain should be made in Britain. Government support for the new National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering is very welcome."

Writing in the Times, Transport Minister Lord Adonis suggested that "third-party contributions and public-private partnerships" could contribute to the plan.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow welcomed the plans but warned that high-speed rail was being delayed by privatisation.

"The development of high-speed rail in the UK has been left in the slow lane because of our fragmented, privatised system which puts short-term profits first and long-term, strategic planning a very poor second," he said.

"It is also important that the politicians realise that expanded and upgraded railways require a highly skilled workforce to deliver these projects."

Rail union TSSA leader Gerry Doherty said: "This is great news for rail passengers and the British economy.

"It will mean thousands of new jobs being created throughout the country over the next 20 years as we belatedly begin to catch up with the rest of Europe when it comes to high-speed rail travel."

The TUC and the Campaign for Better Transport expressed support for high-speed rail but raised concerns about the possible impact on other transport schemes due to the cost of the project.