HS2 In Scotland

HS2 should be extended north, that's according to the Scottish Government.

A debate will take place at Holyrood shortly where Ministers will say that a national high speed rail network connecting Scotland and the South would be the biggest and most transformative transport infrastructure project for Scotland. 

Project boss Sir David Higgins last year revealed that upgrading routes would be 'more realistic' than an extension of HS2.

The route is due to connect London with Leeds and Manchester by 2033.

Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, said:

"Delivering high speed rail would be the biggest and most transformative transport infrastructure project for Scotland but current plans would see services hit the buffers in Leeds or Manchester. With the upcoming general election, people in Scotland have the chance to focus minds in Westminster and complete the track to Scotland.
 
"The Scottish Government is committed to a genuinely national high speed rail network and wants to see Scotland included in HS2, but there is no commitment from the other parties on where they stand with Labour saying different things north and south of the border and silence from the Lib Dems and Tories. It is time they put their money where their mouth is.
 
"High speed rail is an opportunity to rebalance the economy, spreading economic activity by linking our great cities with faster journey times and better connectivity.  Research by Greengauge 21 shows a Manchester to Scotland high speed link has the potential to generate almost £25bn for the economy.
 
"Equally important is the capacity that can be released on the existing network as a consequence of building a new high speed railway. Since 2007, rail travel has increased by 144% between London and Glasgow; by 191% between Manchester and Scotland; and by 261% between Birmingham and Scotland. Demand for freight is also increasing, but line capacity is severely constrained.
 
"High speed rail has the potential to bring huge economic benefits to Scotland, but also adds Scotland's economic weight to the overall case for high speed rail across the UK.
 
"So we are willing to work in partnership with the UK government to bringing high speed rail to Scotland, the question which needs to be answered is whether that commitment is shared by Labour, the Tories and Lib Dems?"