Useful links

Department for Transport

The Department for Transport's page with links to official documents on HS2, including:

New Consultation documentation as of 28 Feb 2011
Proposed High Speed Rail Strategy for Consultation - as announced 20 December 2010
High Speed Rail Maps - Latest Maps as announced 20 December 2010
High Speed Rail - Command Paper. A Command Paper setting out the Government's policy on high speed rail. 11 March 2010
High Speed Rail - Summary. A summary of the key elements of the Government's policy on high speed rail. 11 March 2010
High Speed Rail: London to Birmingham. This leaflet gives some key facts and answers to frequently asked questions on the high speed rail proposals. 11 March 2010
Road and Rail Alternative Study. A report commissioned by Department for Transport from Atkins to consider potential strategic road and rail alternatives to High Speed Two. 12 March 2010
Britains Transport Infrastructure: High Speed Two. Following the Oral Statement of 15 January 2009 on Britain's transport infrastructure this document contains details of the formation of the company High Speed Two. 15 January 2009
The Route Engineering Study Final Report: A report for High Speed Two Ltd published by the Department for Transport. The one with detailed maps and analysis of the preferred route, the preferred alternative and the alternative. 11 March 2010
High Speed Rail London to the West Midlands and Beyond: A Report to Government by High Speed Two Limited. "Advice from HS2 Ltd on proposals for a new high speed railway line between London and the West Midlands and the case for high speed rail services linking London, northern England and Scotland." (note chapter 3b deals with alternative routes considered).
Route Map: Keyplan document
Maps of the route - including 26 May changes to maps 26 and 27.
Maps of alternative route 2.5 from Gerrards Cross to Piddington on the Speen Village website (not available on DfT website).
The next steps - the objectives and remit for high speed rail - including a letter from Lord Adonis to Sir Brian Briscoe, Chairman of High Speed Two Ltd.

Non Technical Summary of the Appraisal of Sustainability thats been done which gives us some insight into the numbers of affected houses at different noise levels. Summary.pdf

Information about noise released 28 May under FOI. Read the letter and the explanatory note that is used in the Non Technical Summary.

DfT rules on assessing Value for Money for projects

DfT Business Plan

Key Contacts

Secretary of State – Philip Hammond: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 020 72194055

Spending Review
Transport Security - including Transec
High Speed Rail
Overall responsibility for Transport Strategy

Minister of State - Theresa Villiers: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 020 72193000

Rail
London - including Crossrail
Olympics
Europe
Aviation - including Air Accident Investigation Branch

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State – Norman Baker: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 020 72192864

Regional and Local Transport
Buses and Taxis - including concessionary fares
Walking and Cycling
Accessibility and Equalities
Alternatives to travel

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State – Mike Penning: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 020 72194759

Strategic roads and Highways Agency
Motoring agencies
Road Safety and Standards
Freight and Logistics - including lorry road user charging
Maritime and Dangerous Goods - including Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Permanent Secretary - Robert Devereaux

Other Government Departments

House of Commons Library:'Railways: High Speed Rail' Standard Note: SN/BT/316, by Louise Butcher. 26 July 2010 (updated)

Transport Select Committee. An Investigation into Transport and Economic Growth opened 19 October. A paper was accepted as evidence from Bruce Weston for HS2AA on the deficiencies in the assessment process used by DfT . Bluespace Thinking also submitted evidence (available here) and gave oral evidence on the flaws in the DfT guidance for forcasting demand for major transport projects. When corrected the demand forcasts used by HS2 Ltd would halve. Some corrections await Ministers approval of revised DfT guidelines due April 2010.

Review & analysis

HS2 AA publish (on 24 June) a paper given at BCC's HS2 Stakeholder Summit (18 June), that makes the case for alternatives to HS2 - see press release and paper

Review of HS2 business case by Bluespace Thinking, which raises significant questions about the demand forecasts and questions whether it is a good use of public funds.

Media Coverage

Parliament Live Video of HS2 - presentation in The Commons

Save the Chilterns (Facebook page) - Say NO to a High Speed Rail Link! This group is concerned at the cost and impact of the proposed HS2 rail link.

County Council Information

Chiltern District Council - Guide to Background, Consultation, Maps and Timetable. Includes this useful leaflet

Other Bodies

Chiltern Society www.chilternsociety.org.uk

Chiltern Conservation Board www.chilternsaonb.org

Campaign to Protect Rural England www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/transport/rail/highspeed2

Chiltern Countryside Group www.chilterncountrysidegroup.org

2M Group & High Speed North www.2mgroup.org.uk/
Has downloads about routing high speed rail along the M1, developed by an alliance of local authorities opposing the Heathrow expansion

Greenguage21 www.greenguage21.net
A public interest company promoting high speed rail