page_title: History of High Speed 2
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: History of High Speed 2 / Background
caption_attribution_description: Eurostar at km 48.3, approaching the Medway bridge taken from Temple Wood, Strood, Kent. This spot is accessible from Albatross Ave and Elgin Gardens. Camera location51°&#160;23′&#160;21.12″&#160;N, 0°&#160;27′&#160;39.24″&#160;E&#160;View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap - Google Earth
context_page_description: The history of High Speed 2 is the background to the planned construction of High Speed 2, a new high-speed railway in Great Britain that will connect London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and other cities in the UK.
  Construction is planned in two phases: Phase One will include the route from London to Birmingham, and Phase 2 will consist of a Y-shaped route north of Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds. Work on Phase One of the route began in 2017, and passenger services are planned to begin in 2026. Phase 2a to Crewe on the initial part of the western leg of the "Y" is due to start services in 2027, and the remainder of phase 2b by 2033.
context_section_description: High-speed rail has been expanding across Europe since the 1980s, with several member countries – notably France, Spain and Germany – investing heavily in new lines capable of operating at over 270 km/h (170 mph). In 2009 there were reportedly 5,600 km (3,480 mi) of high-speed line in operation in Europe; a further 3,480 km (2,160 mi) were under construction and another 8,500 km (5,280 mi) were planned.
  High-speed rail arrived in the United Kingdom with the opening in 2003 of the first part of High Speed 1 (then known as the 108 km (67 mi) Channel Tunnel Rail Link) between London and the Channel Tunnel. The development of a second high-speed line was proposed in 2009 by the United Kingdom Government to address capacity constraints on the West Coast Main Line railway, which is forecast to be at full capacity in 2025. Most of the Britain rail network was built in the Victorian era; the fastest trains are 200 km/h (125 mph). A document published by the Department for Transport in January 2009 described an increase of 50% in rail passenger traffic and an increase of 40% in freight in the preceding ten years in the UK and detailed several infrastructure problems. The report proposed that new high-speed lines be constructed to address these issues and, following assessment of various options, concluded that the most appropriate initial route for a new line was from London to the West Midlands.
caption: HS1 (the Channel Tunnel rail link), the first railway line in Britain with an operating speed of more than 250 km/h
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