Greengauge 21, a UK based non-profit company which is investigating the concepts related to HS2, a UK high speed rail network, has reported that the service will bring economic benefits to the West Midlands area of the UK.
The HS2 high-speed rail link is under construction between London, the Midlands and Northern England. The new report suggests that the service will offer improved connectivity to the main international airports and the Channel Tunnel for onward connection to the European HSR network.
The route will also provide fast rail access from the regional cities in the UK to London, as well as to other European business hubs.
Greengauge 21 director, Jim Steer, said, ‘There are good reasons to believe that the regions will benefit more than London, because the capital enjoys excellent connectivity already. While HSR will improve transport accessibility across Britain, in the key regional cities the difference will be transformational.’
Centro, a UK based organisation operating bus, rail and the Midland Metro Tram transport in the West Midlands area, has viewed Greengauge 21’s report positively. The Centro chief executive officer, Geoff Inskip, said, ‘We’ve seen rail demand soar in the last decade, and a doubling in passenger numbers in the West Midlands.
We’ve consistently spoken of the benefits HS2 brings in delivering more capacity to our crowded rail network, so it’s particularly pleasing to see Greengauge 21 has noted there will be economic benefits in cities like Coventry which will enjoy better regional connections and reduced congestion.
With new fast, direct services and the significant capacity released on our existing lines for more passenger and freight services this report makes it clear the regions can enjoy greater benefits than London.
In fact, HS2 will help us to rebalance our economy and allow us to be more competitive as regions.’
