High Speed: the movie

The CPRE has produced an animated map of the proposed route of the High Speed rail line from London to Birmingham.

The route was unveiled back in March and a story I wrote at the time detailing the plans is the biggest story ever in terms of hits on PlanningResource, perhaps revealing the depth of interest and concern in how the route will affect communities and the environment along its length.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htbRwlTaqdw]

All main parties are committed to High Speed rail and yesterday the coalition committed itself to “establish a high speed rail network as part of our programme of measures to fulfil our joint ambitions for creating a low carbon economy. Our vision is of a truly national high speed rail network for the whole of Britain. Given financial constraints, we will have to achieve this in phases.”

So, barring a political earthquake or the country running (completely) out of money, the plans will go ahead. Tough decisions will have to me made on environmental impact and, as with all planning decisions of this kind, not everyone will be happy.