"HS2 is a state-of-the-art, high-speed line critical for the UK’s low-carbon transport future. It will provide much-needed rail capacity across the country, and is integral to rail projects in the North and Midlands – helping rebalance the UK economy."
HS2 official Partner to CompeteFor
HS2 is Britain’s new high speed rail line being built from London to the North–West, with HS2 trains linking the biggest cities in Scotland with Manchester, Birmingham and London.
HS2 will integrate with new lines and upgrades across Britain’s rail system to deliver faster travel to many towns and cities across Britainnot directly on the HS2 route, including Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby.
170 miles of new high-speed line is already under construction between Crewe and London, employing nearly 30,000 people. In total, the Government is planning over 260 miles of new high speed line across the country, including:
HS2 London to the West Midlands
HS2 West Midlands to Crewe
HS2 Crewe to Manchester Phase 2b
HS2 West Midlands to Leeds
Northern Powerhouse Rail (with a high-speed link between Warrington and Yorkshire that relies on HS2 Phase 2b infrastructure)
HS2 will begin running between 2029 and 2033 when Phase One is complete and services will expand as new sections of the network are built.
There are three main benefits of HS2:
Connectivity – better transport links between our cities and regions is bringing more investment to the Midlands and North, helping to level up the country
Capacity – taking inter-city trains off the existing rail network will free up more space for commuter and freight services, helping to relieve overcrowding and take lorries off the road.
Carbon – HS2 will be the low carbon option for long distance travel, emitting 17 times less carbon than the equivalent domestic flight and 7 times less carbon than the equivalent car journey.