Originally published in The Times The urgently needed high-speed modernisation of our railways is being put at risk by slow-footed ministers The only thing high speed about the development of High Speed 2 in Britain is the treading of water. If Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, gives the go-ahead to the new rail line from [...]
For the Huffington Post Today an economic report has been published that reaffirms what we have known all along. High-speed rail will deliver jobs and growth. The report, commissioned by Britain’s leading cities, is supported by politicians and business leaders alike and states that 1,000,000 jobs rely on the support of the Governments investment in [...]
For Progress Labour’s policy review needs to reaffirm its commitment to high-speed rail, ensuring a green alternative to more roads and flights Labour’s plan for high-speed rail, which I unveiled last March, is a key part of our strategy for growth, regional development and sustainable mobility. It is vital Labour’s forthcoming policy review reaffirms our [...]
Posts from my rail tour diary as Transport Minister 13 April 2009 Nothing beats intensive first hand experience when you are responsible for a major public service. So tonight, while parliament is in recess, I’m off on a five day national rail tour, starting on the midnight sleeper from Paddington to Truro, then zigzagging [...]
The story of Britain’s railways is one of chaotic genius in the Victorian era followed by a century of more or less uninterrupted decline. Christian Wolmar charts this history in admirable detail, but succumbs to unwarranted romanticism when it comes to the last days of British Rail This magnificent book tells the tale of the [...]