Ian Murray Working Hard for Edinburgh South
EDINBURGH LABOUR MPS CALL ON PUBLIC TO BACK HIGH SPEED RAIL
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Edinburgh Labour MPs Ian Murray, Sheila Gilmore and•Mark Lazarowicz have today called on residents to show their support for high speed rail.
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This follows a report in The Spectator that predicted the Government was set to make a U-turn on its commitment to build HS2. It asserted that there was ‘a lack of enthusiasm among the people it was supposed to impress: northerners, Midlanders and business.’
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Under the Government’s current plans an initial line from London to the West Midlands will be up and running by 2026. This will be extended to Leeds and Manchester by 2033/34. Trains will travel at speeds of up to 225mph.
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Passengers in Scotland will benefit immediately as the high speed network will be linked to existing lines, meaning trains will continue up to Edinburgh and Glasgow at conventional speeds. Once the second phase is complete, the Edinburgh to London journey will be cut by an hour to 3 hours 30 minutes.
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Sheila Gilmore said:
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‘Recent media reports have suggested that the Government is set to make a U-turn on its commitment to build HS2 because there is ‘a lack of enthusiasm among the people it was supposed to impress’.
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‘This is completely untrue.’
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‘Passengers in Scotland support high speed rail because of the journey time savings and the economic benefits it will bring.’
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Mark Lazarowicz said:
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‘Scottish Labour MPs have been calling on the Government to build the second phase beyond Leeds and Manchester and on to Edinburgh and Glasgow. While it would be disappointing if the Government fails to do so, it would be a disaster if the project were dropped altogether.’
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‘From my discussions with businesses, council representatives, and individual constituents, I can say with confidence that support for HS2 and its early extension to Scotland is as strong as ever’
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Ian Murray said:
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‘HS2 will benefit Scotland from the outset, and those benefits will be boosted if the project is extended to Edinburgh Glasgow.’
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‘Following these false and inaccurate media reports, people in places that stand to gain from high speed rail need to send a clear signal to Government that they back the project.’
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‘That’s why today we are encouraging Edinburgh residents to show their support by going to•www.campaignforhsr.com/signup<http://www.campaignforhsr.com/signup><http://www.campaignforhsr.com/signup>.’
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