Government: “Election was a vote of confidence in HS2”

The high speed rail link, which will plough through Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, has been heralded by the Tories as away to ‘end the decades old economic gap between the north and south’.

This week Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin spoke with northern and Midlands leaders at Leeds Civic Hall, In his speech he announced that construction of HS2 is on track to start in 2017, and work is well underway on developing plans for east west rail links.

Mr McLoughlin also confirmed £13billion in funding to transform transport infrastructure in the north over the next five years, to help better connect towns and cities there.

Speaking about the announcement he said: “Nothing is more important to this government than a healthy economy which benefits all working people. It means rebalancing our economy and building the northern powerhouse. We will not waste a moment getting on with the task.”