Tories 'would scrap third Heathrow runway'
Monday, 29 September 2008
enlarge
The Tories would scrap plans for a third runway at Heathrow and instead build a £20 billion high speed rail line between London and Leeds, it emerged today.
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said that the Conservatives wanted to cut more than 66,000 flights a year at the west London airport.
Rather than building a third runway, they would install an entirely new railway line running at speeds of up to 180mph between St Pancras, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
It is hoped that the new line would encourage travellers to take the train rather than fly.
As well as reducing demand for domestic flights it would entice people onto the Eurostar, now based at St Pancras, who want to get to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, the Tories expect.
It would also allow more commuter journeys between smaller towns on the West Coast Mainline.
Ms Villiers told The Guardian: "This is a seriously green decision.
"A few years ago it would have been inconceivable for the leader of the Conservative Party to say 'no' to a third runway and putting the brakes on Heathrow expansion."
-
Print Article
-
Email Article
-
Click here for copyright permissions
Copyright 2008 Independent News and Media Limited
QUOTE: "This is a seriously green decision"
Building an entirely new line between London and Leeds going through Birmingham and Manchester won't involve the digging up of green belt land such as the Pennines then? And Birmingham & Manchester aren't famed for their wide open spaces when it comes to finding new ground for a railway, especially one with 180mph capacity.
And where are these 180mph trains coming from? If it's old Eurostar stock, GNER (as was) rejected them after trials because the doors didn't work quickly enough, together with other electrical issues.
And who's going to build it? Network Rail have a huge shortage of manpower for construction projects (see Rugby & London Liverpool Street stories from last year)
I admire the decision to turn to rail rather than air, but hate the Tory smoke & mirrors tricks. I'll believe it when I see anything other than a shuffling of routes (which won't be until at least 2012 going on the current franchise agreements)
Posted by Al | 29.09.08, 12:39 GMT
About time someone in politics got it right. jobs in construction - manufacturing and engineering for the rail links - absolutely the only way to go would be new lines - electric of course run from nuclear power. Now can we just ensure that the fares are reasonable - and that a family of four can travel for the same as it would cost to drive the distance thus incentivising the switch from oil consumption to clean electricity. The main disincentive to [electric] rail travel has always been the fact that the price is per person - just like hotels used to be - when it should be per journey for up to the number of people who fit in a car (4). I'd take a TGV style high speed train from liverpool ( or lancaster) to europe over the plane anytime.
Posted by dr john | 29.09.08, 12:31 GMT
"Blimey! Does this mean the Tories now have a policy?!"
Yes it does: the North can jolly well get stuffed as usual.
Posted by Pete | 29.09.08, 11:27 GMT
This is a good idea, but would the ticket prices be competitive enough with air travel?
Posted by bloke | 29.09.08, 11:02 GMT
Excellent idea and the right way to go. I hope this becomes reality.
Posted by Frank | 29.09.08, 10:54 GMT
Has Cameron looked at a map of Britain lately. Leeds is in the midlands as far as most of the country is concerned. If taxpayers are going to fork out for a high speed link then it should cover the whole country. Newcastle, Edingburgh and up to Aberdeen. Not so many Tory votes up here though
Posted by Northener | 29.09.08, 10:47 GMT
I'll believe this when it happens, but it's a good idea
Posted by doug | 29.09.08, 10:28 GMT
Will they dump the idea of the 'Thames Gateway' airport too?
Posted by TitlePK | 29.09.08, 10:27 GMT
Blimey! Does this mean the Tories now have a policy?!
Posted by Gregchivs | 29.09.08, 10:15 GMT