North Kirklees to benefit from high speed rail link

This morning the government announced the northern extension of the already-planned London to Birmingham HS2 line as far as Manchester and Leeds.

The Leeds stop will be at New Lane in the south bank area, connected to the main station by a walkway.

Coun Khan said: “I will be campaigning for local construction companies to be used, with reliance on local labour and the local supply chain. Ultimately, the construction project itself can be the shot in the arm our economy needs.

“Then once the line is nearing completion, the north of Kirklees can directly benefit from the reduced commute times to the major economic centres. For example Dewsbury will be only around seven minutes train travel and then a very short walk away from the proposed site of the new HS2 station.”

The £32bn network, which will be complete by 2032, will get passengers from Leeds to London in 80 minutes at speeds of up to 250mph.

Coun Khan added: “Also – importantly from an environmental point of view – the new line will release capacity on the existing rail network for more freight to be transported by train, freeing some of the congestion on our major roads.”