[MovedGoalPosts]

One of the greatest problems with our form of government with elections every 4-5 years is short term views. It's good to see for a change something that was conceived by one government, Labour, is being continued by the coalition. If we continue with policies that can only be realised within a government term so many infrastructure projects that will provide benefits for the long term would never happen.

The link to Birmingham only is not enough, but it is the start of a proper network. It does need some proper joined up thinking and it is vital that it can link into the existing line between London and the Channel Tunnel, without requiring a train change. That is where, in my view, the real potential of the service lies which would finally start to offer real alternatives to air travel to Europe. In the short to medium term environmentally the line's contruction may not make sense, but in the longer term I would expect it to see some payback. Ultimately this is not just about time savings, but being able to create a proper modern railway network, rather than something stuck with the heritage of the Victorian era.