Build HS2 trains in Black Country – MP
The UK’s new HS2 fleet of bullet trains should be designed and built in the Black Country, Labour’s West Midlands mayoral candidate Liam Byrne has said.
The Birmingham MP says he wants HS2 to "kick-start a manufacturing renaissance" across the region, with the firm which is handed the much-sought bullet train contract tasked with building them in the Black Country.
Boris Johnson has this week given the go ahead for HS2, despite concerns over its spiralling budget and damage to the environment.
The line will enable passengers to travel from Birmingham to London in 45 minutes, while those travelling from Birmingham to Manchester will get there in 40 minutes, a saving of 48 minutes on their journey time.
Five consortia bid for the £2·75 billion contract to design, manufacture and maintain the 54 trains set to run on HS2. They will travel at speeds of up to 224mph – faster than the Japanese 'shinkansen' bullet trains.
Mr Byrne, who is planning talks with council leaders to find an ideal site for a new factory, said HS2 would make the West Midlands "the high speed cross-roads of Britain".
"I want to see High Speed 2 used to kick-start a manufacturing renaissance," he added. "So whoever is awarded the contract to build the British bullet train should be asked to build them in the Black Country.
"The crucible of the steam revolution should now become the epicentre of the High Speed electric rail revolution."
Alstom, which has a maintenance depot in Wolverhampton, is one of the firms bidding for the contract, with bosses having revealed designs for the trains last year.
Alstom’s UK managing director, Nick Crossfield, said: "Alstom’s vision is to make HS2 trains a timeless design classic, with a passenger experience that is as smooth, calm and spacious as it is high-speed."
The other firms involved are Bombardier/Hitachi, CAF, Talgo and Siemens.
The winning bid is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
