Improving England’s creaking transport system is one of my main preoccupations. As Transport Secretary, in March 2010, I published the plan for the north-south high-speed rail line (HS2), which is now being taken forward by the coalition government. Labour’s plan was for the line to go through from London to Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds as one project, whereas the coalition is proceeding only with London to Birmingham.It is 45 years since Japan linked its major cities by high-speed rail, and 30 years since France and Italy did the same. It is high time Britain followed suit. High speed rail between London, Birmingham and the major cities of the north of England and Scotland would provide the inter-city rail capacity needed for the future. It will also boost the economy, and help overcome the north-south divide which is so damaging to our society. It is the green way forward for transport, and it needs to start now.

As Transport Secretary I was committed to electrifying the Great Western Main Line (GWML) from London to Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea, and the lines from Liverpool to Manchester and Manchester to Preston and Blackpool. This is being taken forward by the coalition, but only from London to Cardiff on the GWML.

I also set out ambitious plans for converting motorway hard-shoulders into running lanes to ease congestion, after successful experience of this in a pilot project on the M42 near Birmingham and in the Netherlands.

I continue to campaign for transport improvements in all forms – road, rail, air and cycling. I’m a strong supporter of the Campaign for High Speed Rail.