Euston Station on secret shortlist for high-speed trains
EUSTON railway station is in the running to be turned into a mega-terminus that will be a transport hub for the next generation of high-speed trains, the New Journal can reveal.
In the battle against climate change, the government want to discourage domestic flights and is planning a new link from London to Birmingham and then on to Glasgow.
A company called High Speed 2 has been established and its chairman, Sir David Rowlands, handed over a top secret report this week to Transport minister Lord Adonis with suggestions for the site of a potential new terminus to handle the inter-city services.
Sources close to Network Rail have told the New Journal that Euston is high on the list of possible sites. Major property owners who own swathes of land around Euston have been asked for their views on whether the station should be the preferred terminal for the link, which will whisk passengers to Birmingham in 45 minutes and Glasgow in under three hours.
The use of Euston would make sense, say property owners Sydney and London, who own office blocks that ring the station. They have set up a campaign group to gauge views about the future of the station, which has been earmarked for redevelopment for the past four years but has seen no real work commence due to wrangling between Network Rail and British Land, who were given the role as preferred developers.
Sydney and London managing director Richard Anning said: “Euston Station would be an ideal London terminus for High Speed 2, but irrespective of whether it is chosen, we will need an upgraded Euston station, capable of coping with the increased number of passengers, very soon. A High Speed 2 spokesman said: “We are not confirming or denying anything. Our report is confidential.”
Somers Town Labour councillor Roger Robinson said the area had suffered over the years from noise and pollution and any major building scheme in the future should only be given the green light if people living in the area back the plans.
He said: “They need to speak to people in Somers Town.”
DAN CARRIER