51 reasons the West Midlands needs HS2

Birmingham will be right at the heart of Britain’s new high speed network. It will bring huge benefits to our community and is already having a positive impact for local people. The skyline of our city is changing as more investment and jobs pour in. HS2 is more than a railway, its about adding vital capacity to our existing network, achieving our net zero-carbon future and bringing Britain closer together. It’s about so much more than just getting to London 37 minutes quicker.

Here are 51 benefits of HS2:

1. It will add more capacity to the existing rail network, by taking inter-city services off it.
2. There will be more room for commuter services, easing congestion at morning rush-hour.
3. There will be more room for rail freight services, with each additional freight train taking up to 76 lorries off the roads.
4. Less lorries on the roads will not only benefit drivers, but will reduce emissions and improve air quality, helping the fight against climate change
5. People will benefit from HS2, even if they don’t use it.
6. HS2 will be the low-carbon option for long-distance travel.
7. A journey on HS2 will emit 17 times less carbon than the equivalent domestic flight
8. A journey on HS2 will emit 7 times less carbon than the equivalent car journey.
9. It will help Britain reach our target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
10. HS2 has been future-proofed to help meet future demand.
11. When the full network is running, it will carry 300,000 people a day.
12. That’s over 100 million passengers a year.
13. Birmingham will be right at the heart of the new high speed network.
14. You’ll be able to get to Leeds in 49 minutes, down from 2 hours.
15. You’ll be able to get to Manchester in 40 minutes, down from 1 hr 28 mins
16. You’ll be able to get to the new East Midlands Hub, between Nottingham and Derby, in just 20 minutes.
17. Other places such as Sheffield, York, Wigan and more will all be within an hour of Birmingham.
18. The new HS2 station at Curzon Street in Birmingham will be a catalyst for regeneration in the city.
19. The West Midlands Combined Authority say that HS2 could add £14 billion to the regional economy every year.
20. They also say the arrival of HS2 will create 100,000 jobs.
21. Birmingham Curzon Street Station will be one of the most environmentally friendly stations in the world.
22. It will create a brand new part of the city next to the city centre and Digbeth with new parks and shopping destinations.
23. According to Birmingham City Council, the Curzon Street development will create 36,000 jobs
24. It will also help to create 4,000 new homes.
25. And 600,000 square metres of commercial development.
26. The new station will become a superb of connectivity.
27. It will be connected to the new, extended, West Midlands metro network.
28. A new station place at the front of Curzon Street station will merge with Moor Street station, creating a seamless connection between the two.
29. The new station will bring back to life the original Curzon Street building, originally built in 1838 and currently the oldest surviving railway building anywhere in the world.
30. Businesses are already moving to Birmingham because of HS2, before a single train has started running.
31. HSBC have moved their retail bank HQ to the city, creating new jobs and opportunities for Brummies and PWC have also expanded their operations in the city.
32. Birmingham has more jobs being created than anywhere outside of London.
33. Birmingham has more new businesses being set up than anywhere outside of London.
34. Birmingham has more investment coming into the city than anywhere outside of London.
35. Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street has said HS2 is crucial to the continued growth and success of the region.
36. The West Midlands’ second HS2 station, Interchange, is next to Birmingham Airport which now has plans to expand. 
37. A bigger Birmingham Airport will bring more investment into the city and job opportunities for local people.
38. It will also attract new routes to open, meaning more direct flights to more places for Brummies.
39. Manchester Airport will also be bought closer to Birmingham, just 32 minutes away, a whole 1 hour 17 minutes quicker than today’s journey.
40. Currently, over 9,000 jobs are supported nationwide by HS2.
41. Many of these are in the Midlands through the HS2 supply chain and HS2 Ltd also have their HQ in Birmingham.
42. At peak construction in a few years time, 30,000 people will be needed to design and build HS2.
43. 2,000 apprentices will also be needed to build the railway.
44. There are hundreds of apprentices already working on the project, many of which are from Birmingham.
45. The new train depot in East Birmingham will employ 400 people working in shifts to repair and maintain the new fleet of high-speed trains.
46. Around 2,000 businesses have already delivered work on HS2. Hundreds of these are in the Midlands, creating opportunity for Birmingham businesses.
47. The first phase of HS2 will plant 7 million trees and shrubs.
48. It will leave behind 33.4km squared of wildlife habitat, over 30% more than there is there now.
49. Over 50 new wildlife habitats have already been created as part of the project’s early works.
50. Local communities along the route will benefit from new community and environment funds.
51. £5 million has already been awarded, much of this to projects in Birmingham and the West Midlands.