Homes on the line if rail route approved

Mar 18 2010 By Greg Burns, Buckinghamshire Advertiser

HOMES in the Chilterns would have to be bulldozed to make way for a new high speed rail link between London and Birmingham.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis last Friday released the proposed route for the new £17-billion High Speed Two (HS2) rail link, cutting through Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Amersham and Great Missenden and then to the Midlands.

The Department for Transport (DfT) will open up the HS2 plans to a public consultation.

The government says the project will create up to 10,000 jobs. The trains will be 400 metres long and have a capacity of up to 1,100 seats, with one train every four minutes passing through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The frequency could rise to one every three minutes if the line is extended to Sheffield and Leeds.

A DfT statement said: "Over the coming months the government will consult widely on these proposals, with a view to legislating to take forward a project in the light of the responses.

"High speed rail has a transformational role to play at the heart of Britain's 21st century transport infrastructure."

A DfT enquiry line has been set up for residents on 020 7944 4908, with the public consultation set to begin in the autumn.

Visit www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/commandpaper/pdf/cmdpap.pdf  to see the plans.

**How have you been affected by by this announcement? Is your house in the firing line? Email us on bucksnews@trinitysouth.co.uk  or call Greg Burns on 07795 800 083.