London: A report commissioned by the British government has rejected alternatives to a planned high-speed
train project, the clearest sign yet that the 32 billion-pound
(USD 49 billion) scheme will go ahead.
The Network Rail review says Saturday that alternatives
will cause long delays to travellers during the building stages
and fail to deal with overcrowding on trains.
The high-speed rail project aims to shorten journey times
between London and Birmingham, and later stages include
connections to more northern cities.
Many lawmakers and environmentalists oppose the project,
saying the planned route will ruin England's picturesque
countryside, and that it is too expensive and will not benefit
most Britons.
Officials are expected to announce a decision next week.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 07, 2012, 22:04