High-speed trains are continuing to take over intra-European travel: The BBC is reporting that a $51-billion high-speed rail network has been given the go-ahead by the government. Phase one of HS2, between London and Birmingham, should be running by 2026, later extending to northern England.
The London to Birmingham link would then be followed by a second phase of the Y-shaped route, reaching Manchester and Leeds by about 2033.
At speeds of up to 250mph, the report says that passengers will be able to commute from Birmingham to London in 45 minutes, reducing the journey time by almost half from one hour and 24 minutes.
A Birmingham to Leeds journey will be reduced from two hours to 57 minutes and a Manchester to London journey from two hours and eight minutes to one hour and eight minutes.
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