Network Rail has said only HS2 can deliver desperately-needed extra rail capacity. The West Coast, East Coast and Midland mainlines are effectively full and upgrading them would not deliver the same extra seating or journey times as HS2. 1/3 thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/…
With no HS2, Network Rail’s alternative railway upgrade scenario needs 51 improvement projects to be launched. It still only delivers 66 per cent of HS2's capacity. The East Coast Main Line would be closed every weekend for nearly 30 years. 2/3 thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/…
Network Rail has also made clear that plans to upgrade the North's rail network would be £15 billion more expensive without HS2. For example, #HS2 enable key elements of #NorthernPowerhouseRail, helping rebalance our economy and join up Britain. 3/3 thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/…
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Challenge the lie that HS2 will destroy 108 woodlands. To support 500,000 UK jobs and deliver a low carbon, high capacity, better connected transformation of our railways, there are some upfront limited impacts. But let’s look at how limited they are:
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England has 52,000 ancient woodland sites. 43 are affected by HS2 between London and Crewe, of which over 80% will remain intact.
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If an ancient woodland is described as affected, in many cases this means a small section of it is affected. On Phase One, 32 are described as affected. Through careful design and environmental consideration less than 0.29 square kilometres of them will be lost.
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HS2 respects the right to peaceful, lawful protest. However, we must correct the incorrect and misleading information about the #HS2 project, such as false claims that entire woodlands are being destroyed.
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HS2 is very conscious of its impact in building the new railway and takes its responsibilities very seriously, employing world leading ecologists delivering many miles of ecological and landscape investments.
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The UK, in particular the Midlands and North, need this vital investment to bring more job opportunities and better connect towns and cities, as well as help decarbonise our transport network. We are committed to delivering the greenest major project ever delivered in the UK.
There is a huge amount of false and misleading information about #HS2 on social media. Below is a myth buster thread which corrects some of the most repeated misconceptions about the project…
Myth 1: ‘HS2 only saves 20 minutes to #Birmingham’. FACT: #HS2 services will call at 25 stations in England and Scotland connecting 30 million people. It also frees up space on the existing network for more frequent stopping local services benefiting those who may never use HS2.
HS2’s budget is spread over 30 years and evens out at less than the annual roads budget. We will support 30,000 jobs at least 2,000 of which will be apprenticeships. The arrival of #HS2 is spearheading economic growth and is expected to create nearly 500,000 jobs around stations.
HS2 is Britain’s biggest environment project, delivering miles of ecological and landscape investments alongside construction. On #WorldEnvironmentDay, find out more about the huge scale of environment work and the benefits #fornature. gapi.io/6rDW
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HS2’s already created over 60 new #wildlife habitats. Grassland, ponds, and plantings now support reptiles, badgers, birds, and bats. At Finham Brook in #Warks six new ponds benefit great crested newts amid 6,200 new trees. #WorldEnvironmentDay
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HS2’s also planting 7 million #trees and shrubs between #London and #Birmingham alone. Over 40 species are being grown by Crowders Nurseries, a family run #SME in #Lincs. We’ve already planted 350,000 of them. #WorldEnvironmentDay
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“HS2 is just 20 minutes quicker to #Birmingham” is a well-trodden myth. #HS2 will transform the UK with the 3Cs: More CAPACITY across the country’s #rail network. A low CARBON #transport network. Better CONNECTIVITY in the #Midlands and #North.
Capacity: #HS2 will add vital capacity to our overcrowded #rail network by placing long distance services on their own pair of tracks. This will create thousands of extra seats and space for more local, commuter and #freight services on the existing #railway.
Carbon: #Rail is the low carbon option for long distance travel, with #HS2 taking cars and lorries off the road. HS2 emits 17 times less carbon than the equivalent domestic flight and 7 times less carbon than the equivalent car journey.
HS2 will help cut the number of cars and lorries on our roads, cut demand for flights, and help fight climate change. Here are some of the facts behind the false information being spread by some groups online. 1/6
Of England's 52,000 ancient woodland sites only 43 will be touched by HS2’s London - Crewe route. Over 80% of the total area of these 43 will remain completely intact. Figures claiming the total loss of 108 Ancient Woodlands are simply not true. hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/e…
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We're creating over 33 square kilometres of new and existing wildlife habitat, an area the size of 4,600 football pitches. An increase of around 30% compared to what’s there now. We'll plant 7 million trees and shrubs, including 40 native species, specific to each location. 3/6