Your guide to the best commentary on the high-speed rail announcement made this morning by Lord Adonis:
Ray Massey at the Daily Mail points out that the route creates blight in leafy Chilterns Tory seats while providing better rail access to Labour voters in northern cities
Tory peer Lord Mawhinney has been appointed to examine the case for linking Heathrow to the route, writes Dan Milmo at the Guardian
It’s all a “pipedream”, says Christian Wolmar, the transport expert. Wolmar also questions the need to link Heathrow to the inter-city rail system.
Norman Baker (transport, Lib Dems) makes the case for high-speed rail on the Today programme. And slams the Tories for “playing short-term politics” and failing to provide cross-party support.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey