On 11th March 2010 the Government published the High Speed 2 report. It is part of a Command Paper on high speed rail which Lord Adonis announced to Parliament. The Department for Transport is the sponsor/promoter of the scheme, their website is the best place to get information. The report is now available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/highspeedrail
The report identifies a preferred route for a high speed railway line from London to the West Midlands and some of the other options that were considered. The preferred route goes through the west side of Buckinghamshire. The route skirts close to some villages and towns and will have an impact on the Chiltern Hills. For more detailed maps and information visit
http://www.dft.gov.uk/results?view=Filter&h=m&m=4552&pg=1 . For detailed maps including tunnels and viaducts go to Chapter 5 in the document:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2ltd/routeengineering/
The Coalition Government has shown a commitment to High Speed Rail though including it in the Queen’s Speech, the government will "enable the construction of a high-speed network". No timetable for the work or details on routes were given. The announcement only said the Bill would be introduced in "due course".
If you have any enquiries about this scheme and don't have access to a computer please contact the Department for Transport on 0300 330 3000.
The paper shows how the Government plans to take this work forward. On the 24th June changes by the Coalition Government to the remit of HS2 Ltd were published. This has ultimately put back the date for public consultation from Autumn 2010 to the New Year 2011. There are other elements to the change in remit, for more information please see:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2remit/ .
The Government has also published a consultation on an exceptional hardship scheme aimed at protecting the interests of owner-occupiers of properties particularly affected by the preferred London – West Midlands route. This consultation has now closed. To see a copy of Buckinghamshire County Councils’ response to the exceptional hardship scheme consultation please see related files.
In addition a review has been carried out by Lord Mawhinney on the links between HS2 and Heathrow. To see Buckinghamshire County Council’s submission to the review please see related files.