High Speed 2 will drive new homes and jobs, say economists

This from the UK Telegraph.

The High Speed 2 is a new high speed line envisaged between London and Birmingham [phase 1] and then onward to Manchester Piccadilly.  Four major city centres will be served directly - London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.

If this is the High Speed 2, then what was High Speed 1?

The first phase is scheduled for completion in 2026.  The second phase in 2035.  Apparently, the main UK political parties support this project, though the Parliamentary Bill is to be passed only in 2015.  This is the official website of HS2.

HS 2 will cut the travelling time from Manchester to London to 1 hour 10 min from the current 2 hours 10min.  The distance is slightly more than 200 miles.

I think that the HS 2 is long overdue.  The railway infrastructure in UK is quite antiquated.  Just look at the Shinkansen in Japan and all the other high speed trains in many parts of Europe.

This is definitely good for UK's growth.

Thanks for reading.