Campaigners call for New Street HS2 stop

A high-speed rail link between the Midlands and London will be a "waste of money" unless it stops at Birmingham New Street, it was claimed today as MPs launched a long-awaited inquiry into the £32 billion project.

Lichfield City Council confirmed its support in principle for the line, known as HS2, but rubbished claims that it would cut journey times. Councillors said the proposed locations of the stations and the line's non-tilting trains would leave the area with fewer, slower trains.

And they said plans for a terminus in Curzon Street, Digbeth, should be ditched, arguing Birmingham New Street was a "better site" because it served other areas such as the Black Country.