HS2 stations to be fitted for international trains

The leader of a group set up to oversee transport policy in the West Midlands said he has seen a letter from the Department for Transport saying that the multi-million pound HS2 stations in Birmingham's Curzon Street and by Birmingham Airport would still be 'compatible' with international travel.

It comes as plans to create 14,000 jobs, 2,000 homes and bring up to £1.3 billion a year to the economy were announced by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. The minister launched a regeneration body that will drive economic growth around the Curzon Street HS2 city centre terminus in Birmingham.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton City Council and chairman of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority, also said he was 'excited' by plans to spend £130 million linking up the Midland Metro tram with the high speed rail station in Curzon Street in Birmingham City Council.

The Department for Transport says it has yet to decide on provision for 'international facilities'.

The Birmingham Curzon Urban Regeneration Company will lead the development of more than 345 acres (140 hectares) of land around Curzon Street in Birmingham city centre.

The construction headquarters will be in 100,000 sq ft of office space in new block Two Snowhill, near to Snow Hill station.

The Government has backed a decision to save £700 million on the project by dropping a proposed link between HS2 and the Channel Tunnel, a move that will also speed up construction.

But stations are still set to be built as though the link exists in case it ever gets built in future.

Councillor Lawrence said: "All of the new stations will have to be international travel compliant.

"They will be designed to take international services even though there is not currently a link between HS2 and HS1.

"What it will mean is that if the link does go ahead, there will be facilities like passport control that can be put in without having to rebuild the stations."

Councillor Lawrence said the detail had emerged in a letter from the Government.

Paul Malley, spokesman for the Department for Transport, said: "The Transport Secretary has commissioned a study into ways to improve connections to the continent that could be implemented once the initial stages of HS2 are complete.

"We intend to reserve any decisions on making provision for international facilities at HS2 stations until we know the outcome of this work."

Councillor Lawrence also said he was keen to see the Metro link up with the Curzon Street station.

"This will mean people in areas like Bilston and West Bromwich will have a direct link with the HS2 line."

The HS2 HQ will be in Birmingham and will house up to 1,500 HS2 Ltd employees, and the first phase is expected to open in 2015.

Councillor Lawrence said: "The development itself will attract high quality employment and bring transport experts to the West Midlands who can help us to build on this by attracting further investment."

Mr McLoughlin added: "It is great news that Birmingham City Council has created a company specifically to focus on the regeneration opportunities created by HS2. It will bring new investment and work into the city, helping secure the future prosperity of the region and the country."

HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins said: "The lasting impact of HS2 will, in the end, be determined by how successfully local authorities and regions use it as a catalyst to transform and develop not just their economies, but also the look and feel of the areas it touches.

"The Birmingham Curzon Urban Regeneration Company will, therefore, be hugely important both for Birmingham and the rest of the West Midlands."

Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "Since the industrial revolution, Birmingham has been a national capital for engineering, so it is only natural that the HS2 Construction HQ be based in Birmingham.

"HS2 is an important step in rebalancing the country's economy, supporting growth in the regions and encouraging more inward investment into the City.

"It is essential that we have the power to make local decisions, and the Regeneration Company will allow us to realise the full potential and benefit of HS2 for this area."