There didn't seem to be any further details behind the headline but I assume Ray that he really is describing what the headline implies (always a dangerous assumption!) that his constituents wish to travel by train to BHX - this is good news.
You are quite right to point out the ambiguity of the headline. He is asking for more capacity on the route from Shrewsbury to the West Midlands conurbation .That route just happens to terminate at Birmingham International but I'm sure he would be happy with New St.
Even better a service that cuts out Wolverhampton so easing overcrowding at peak times.
Just another case of a politician issuing a lazy statement.Probably never used the service.
 
Good stuff.

I do hope they drop the 'Birmingham Interchange' name and just call it 'Birmingham Airport'. There is already enough confusion as it is with the current 'International' station.

I think the naming is more to do with the fact that government envisages the majority of passengers to be locals using the station to access the rest of the network rather than people using HS2 to travel to Birmingham Airport.

I don't know how well it would work calling both the current and HS2 stations "Birmingham Airport (Station)".
 
HS2 overcame the last Parlimentary hurdle yesterday, it is expected to gain Royal Assent in the coming week (Thursday has been mentioned).

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/up...struction-on-track-after-parliament-approval/

With the HS2 college fast approaching completion I hope that the start of construction on the line itself isn't too far away.
I've always been in two minds over HS2. The big problem with West Coast Mainline through Birmingham is that it's just two lines. Most mainline routes have four lines, allowing commuter trains to use the outer lines (and thus stopping at all stations) whilst intercity trains use the inner two lines allowing them to pass the slower local and freight trains. On the Birmingham (West Midlands) section, the only passing places are at major stations. Would money be better spent in upgrading this line?
On the other hand, I'm delighted to see investment into major new infrastructure linking not only Birmingham and the West Midlands but also many cities further north into London.
One thing that really riles me, is those who live in the south east opposing HS2. They were perfectly happy when the whole of the UK funded HS1, giving them rapid access to Paris, Brussels etc. (but not Birmingham, or anywhere further north, compared to flying). Now that the taxes that they pay might be spent further north than Watford Gap, they protest.

Kevin
 
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I'm not a rail enthusiast so i was wondering if anybody could answer the following. As Curzon St will be a terminus if in the future i wanted to catch a high speed train to say Leeds will it be direct from Curzon St.or will i have to go to an interchange on the outskirts (Birmingham Parkway) and catch a London to Leeds train?
I fear that knowing how governments usually treat Bham it will become a spur off the main network.
Why not continue the high speed line in a tunnel under the city centre which would admittedly be expensive and raise protests but be offset by continuing through Smethwick Oldbury and Wolverhampton which would be cheap and nobody would care.
 
I'm not a rail enthusiast so i was wondering if anybody could answer the following. As Curzon St will be a terminus if in the future i wanted to catch a high speed train to say Leeds will it be direct from Curzon St.or will i have to go to an interchange on the outskirts (Birmingham Parkway) and catch a London to Leeds train?
I fear that knowing how governments usually treat Bham it will become a spur off the main network.
Why not continue the high speed line in a tunnel under the city centre which would admittedly be expensive and raise protests but be offset by continuing through Smethwick Oldbury and Wolverhampton which would be cheap and nobody would care.

I believe that London to Leeds/Manchester trains will bypass Birmingham Curzon Street (but call at the Birmingham Interchange by the airport).

Birmingham will of course have its own direct trains to London Euston originating from Curzon Street.

It will equally have services starting at Curzon Street direct to Manchester/Leeds.

I think the main reason for the current set up instead of a tunneled through station at Birmingham is cost. Government/HS2 LTD decided that tunneling to have a through station wasn't worth the cost it would take to do it.
 
You will be able to go direct to all destinations on the HS2 network from Birmingham Curzon Street
 
I believe that London to Leeds/Manchester trains will bypass Birmingham Curzon Street (but call at the Birmingham Interchange by the airport).
Thats what worries me.If i was the beancounter and had London to Leeds or Manchester trains calling at the Interchange why would i follow it maybe 10 mins later with another train that originated 10 miles away and has been travelling in the wrong direction for those 10 miles.
 
HS2 GO-AHEAD TO POWER WEST MIDLANDS RENAISSANCE
  • Royal Assent to be granted for London to West Midlands route today
  • First trains to operate in 2026
The news that Royal Assent is to be granted today (Thu 23 Feb) for the high-speed rail route between London and the West Midlands has been welcomed across Greater Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country.

The hybrid bill will become an Act of Parliament this morning and means the West Midlands can press ahead with its plans to use HS2 as a catalyst to drive economic growth and deliver an additional £14bn to the UK economy (gross value added).


http://businessbirmingham.com/media...&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn&utm_source=Twitter
 
And hopefully they will do something about the old Curzon St. station building.The oldest railway terminus building
in the world allowed to rot.An absolute disgrace to Birmingham.

I am sure the building will look great. Just a shame no one will be able to afford the sky high train tickets on HS2. If we are lucky the costs may come down on the old West Coast main line when (or if) HS2 opens.

Anyone running a book on when the first train will actually run?
 
I am sure the building will look great. Just a shame no one will be able to afford the sky high train tickets on HS2. If we are lucky the costs may come down on the old West Coast main line when (or if) HS2 opens.

Anyone running a book on when the first train will actually run?
I've heard the contractors are a consortium of the people who are updating our local motorways and the people
who built the half mile tram extension from Snow Hill to New St.My money is on 2057
 

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