Halton MP criticises new high speed rail line (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

MO Derek Twigg slams £32bn rail line as 'exorbitant'

1:10pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in News By Barbara Jordan

MP Derek Twigg at Widnes North railway station

A CONTROVERSIAL new £32 billion high speed rail line between London and Birmingham has been slammed as “exorbitant” by a former transport minister.

Halton MP Derek Twigg believes the project, announced yesterday by Transport Secretary Justine Greening, could deprive local lines of much needed investment.

Mr Twigg said: “In principle, it sounds like a good idea, but in practice, it raises serious concerns.

“It will take an exorbitant amount of money away from other rail services.

“As it is only going to Birmingham, I don’t think it is going to be of great benefit to us.”

The first phase of the scheme is set to cut journey times on the 100-mile route to 49 minutes.

Further links to Manchester and Leeds are planned by around 2033.

Mr Twigg claims intercity trains from Runcorn to the capital are already fast enough.

He said: “As a railway commuter, I travel every week on the west coast mainline in less than two hours. It gives me time to work on the train.

“I am not sure what added time will bring to the value of travel.

“I also use trains to Liverpool and Manchester.

“I would prefer to see the money spent on maintaining the current lines that have been neglected for years and replacing coaches that are 30-40 years old with more modern ones.”

He said the St Helens, Liverpool and Manchester line is being upgraded but the Widnes side has been ignored.

He added: “How do we maintain and upgrade and improve the rest of the railway system whilst finding all this money for a high speed rail link?”