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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| High speed railway decision due | High speed railway decision due |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Network Rail is due to announce its preferred route for a new high speed railway line linking London to the north of England and possibly Scotland. | Network Rail is due to announce its preferred route for a new high speed railway line linking London to the north of England and possibly Scotland. |
| There is speculation that the company which runs Britain's rail infrastructure will favour building the new line up the country's west coast. | There is speculation that the company which runs Britain's rail infrastructure will favour building the new line up the country's west coast. |
| This could mean rail journey times between London and Glasgow taking as little as two and a half hours. | This could mean rail journey times between London and Glasgow taking as little as two and a half hours. |
| However, any final decision will be made by the government. | |
| That could depend heavily on how much it costs, said the BBC's transport correspondent, Richard Scott. | That could depend heavily on how much it costs, said the BBC's transport correspondent, Richard Scott. |
| Easing pressure | Easing pressure |
| The proposed new line would become the country's second high speed rail link after the line which runs from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel, used primarily by Eurostar services. | The proposed new line would become the country's second high speed rail link after the line which runs from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel, used primarily by Eurostar services. |
| Network Rail says the new line is required to ease the pressure on Britain's railways. It says passenger numbers have rocketed by 40% over the past decade, and that by 2024 many existing lines will be at full capacity. | Network Rail says the new line is required to ease the pressure on Britain's railways. It says passenger numbers have rocketed by 40% over the past decade, and that by 2024 many existing lines will be at full capacity. |
| Trains on any new line could travel at speeds of more than 180 miles per hour. | Trains on any new line could travel at speeds of more than 180 miles per hour. |
| However, if it is built along the west coast via Birmingham and Manchester, it would mean cities like Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle missing out. | However, if it is built along the west coast via Birmingham and Manchester, it would mean cities like Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle missing out. |
| Network Rail's announcement is due at 0945 BST. | Network Rail's announcement is due at 0945 BST. |