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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tories would scrap Heathrow plans | Tories would scrap Heathrow plans |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Conservatives have said they will scrap plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport and build a £20bn high-speed rail line instead. | The Conservatives have said they will scrap plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport and build a £20bn high-speed rail line instead. |
| Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers told the Guardian the aim was to cut 66,000 Heathrow flights a year by encouraging people to use the train. | Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers told the Guardian the aim was to cut 66,000 Heathrow flights a year by encouraging people to use the train. |
| The proposed 180mph rail link would run between St Pancras in London and Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. | The proposed 180mph rail link would run between St Pancras in London and Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. |
| Ms Villiers said the decision was based on environmental concerns. | Ms Villiers said the decision was based on environmental concerns. |
| The Conservatives hope the line would increase use of the Eurostar, based at St Pancras, to the continent, and free up the West Coast Mainline for more commuter journeys. | The Conservatives hope the line would increase use of the Eurostar, based at St Pancras, to the continent, and free up the West Coast Mainline for more commuter journeys. |
| Decision expected | Decision expected |
| Ms Villiers said: "This is a seriously green decision. | Ms Villiers said: "This is a seriously green decision. |
| "A few years ago it would have been inconceivable for the leader of the Conservative party to say 'no' to a third runway and putting the brakes on Heathrow expansion." | "A few years ago it would have been inconceivable for the leader of the Conservative party to say 'no' to a third runway and putting the brakes on Heathrow expansion." |
| On the second day of the party conference in Birmingham, Ms Villiers is set to announce a Tory government would spend £15.6bn over 12 years on the project. The private sector would contribute a further £4.4bn. | On the second day of the party conference in Birmingham, Ms Villiers is set to announce a Tory government would spend £15.6bn over 12 years on the project. The private sector would contribute a further £4.4bn. |
| Journey times would be cut from 125 minutes to 80 minutes from London to Manchester, and from 55 minutes to 17 minutes between Manchester and Leeds. | Journey times would be cut from 125 minutes to 80 minutes from London to Manchester, and from 55 minutes to 17 minutes between Manchester and Leeds. |
| The true test of their commitment will come when, like the Liberal Democrats, this position is written into their manifesto John SauvenGreenpeace | |
| The Conservatives have also proposed a high-speed link between St Pancras and Heathrow. | The Conservatives have also proposed a high-speed link between St Pancras and Heathrow. |
| Environmental campaigners have strongly opposed the expansion of Heathrow, but business leaders have backed development plans. | Environmental campaigners have strongly opposed the expansion of Heathrow, but business leaders have backed development plans. |
| Heathrow, the UK's largest airport, handles more than 500,000 flights a year. Its owner BAA says it is "jam packed" and needs a new runway to compete with other major European airports. | |
| Last week at the Labour conference, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said London needed a "hub" airport to support the British economy. | |
| London's Conservative mayor Boris Johnson has suggested an airport on an artificial island in the Thames estuary could be used to ease overcrowding instead. Ms Kelly dismissed that idea as "irresponsible". | |
| A government decision on whether to go ahead with a third runway is expected later this year. | A government decision on whether to go ahead with a third runway is expected later this year. |
| The Liberal Democrats also oppose it and have pledged a 15-year rail network improvement programme - including high-speed links between London, Heathrow airport, Birmingham and Manchester. | |
| Greenpeace welcomed the Conservative announcement and said it would put "real pressure" on the government. | |
| But executive director John Sauven added: "The true test of their commitment will come when, like the Liberal Democrats, this position is written into their manifesto." |