HS2, runways and a new city.

Rumours abound that Cameron is about to announce a 'U-turn' on the provision of a third runway at Heathrow.  Elected on a 'no runway' manifesto any such announcement will not go down well, particularly in Tory and Liberal Democrat held seats under the Heathrow fly paths.  The Mayor of London has announced his continued opposition to a third runaway at Heathow and is busy peddling his Thames estuary proposal.   There is talk of opening Northolt to civil flights, but no mention of Manston in Kent.

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2012/03/by-paul-goodman-shadow-ministers-tend-to-hammer-away-like-nibelung-dwarves-at-their-own-special-policy-grindstone-glancing.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/25/heathrow-third-runway-conservative-policy

http://www.cityam.com/latest-news/boris-i-will-veto-third-runway

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17510021

Should a third runway be built at Heathrow, what then of HS2 which has been trailed as the answer to congestion at Heathrow as it would reduce domestic flights?

The answer may be gleaned from the following articles.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/9165205/Countryside-planning-revolution-new-city-proposed-for-Midlands.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120035/New-city-Midlands-rail-link-green-belt-land-cope-population-growth.html

The latter of the two reports above mentions that Northampton's population is to grow between 15-19% over the next eight years.  Helps make out my case that the Northampton-Bedford line should be re-opened and the Thameslink service extended from Bedford to Northampton and Rugby.

Coventry will be a major loser should HS2 be built: London-Birmingham traffic will use HS2 and by-pass Coventry.  The Coventy-Euston service will be reduced, or have more stops.

Update: Phase 2 of HST2:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/plans-for-hs2-to-be-published-in-the-autumn-7593172.html