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High Speed Rail: the route to Birmingham
The Department for Transport website almost seized up this afternoon as literally dozens of mainly very large documents were released simultaneously as High Speed 2 rail plans were announced. The maps alone amounted to 45 large pdf files. A warning that download problems could occur was posted.

As always, looking at detailed maps is tricky to the untrained eye. Of immediate interest is the fact that development of Eastside / Curzon Street in Birmingham as a railway terminus is back on, so presumably several planning applications for land round there will stall for the time being. Birmingham City University's new campus could be involved.

Arup proposed a new Grand Central Station at Eastside to become Birmingham's main station in 2005. It looked like the idea was finished once New Street's major overhaul was confirmed, but things could potentially turn out very nicely for Birmingham, with a rejuvenated New Street and a brand new station.
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national road user charging
With the election not far off, where do the 3 main parties stand on national road user charging? We contacted all three; so far two have replied.

The Department for Transport (for Labour) in a brief reply said, "the Government has no plans for national road user charging".

With a hung parliament a distinct possibility, the view of the Liberal Democrats is more relevant than usual, and their more expansive response included, "UK-wide, the long-term policy of the Liberal Democrats is to move to a revenue-neutral road user pricing scheme on motorways and trunk roads, while scrapping Vehicle Excise Duty completely and reducing fuel duty". Perhaps such an approach offers the best chance of getting more drivers to sign up for voluntary "black-box" schemes which would at least pilot the potential technology and move the discussion on.

The Conservatives have yet to reply.
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