Labour leader sets out his forthright views on HS2 and blacklisting
Jeremy Corbyn has said his backing of the 拢46bn HS2 project is conditional on getting 鈥済uarantees鈥� it would not divert money from other rail projects.
In an exclusive interview with 星空传媒, conducted in his North Islington constituency last Friday, the Labour leader also confirmed he wants his party to lead a 鈥渂ig debate鈥� on whether the line should terminate west of central London at Old Oak Common, rather than at the proposed terminus of Euston station, where he warns of 鈥渆normous鈥� disruption.
Asked if he was open to persuasion on HS2, Corbyn said: 鈥淚鈥檓 open to persuasion on increasing rail capacity. I鈥檓 concerned - and I want guarantees - that it [HS2] isn鈥檛 going to lead to removal of capital investment in the existing rail network and the need for improvements to it.鈥�
He outlined several other rail investment priorities: 鈥淩ail infrastructure in the north, particularly the east-west rail link from Manchester to Newcastle and Midland Mainline, and railways north of the central belt in Scotland because we have a very serious imbalance. Likewise railways in the South-west beyond Exeter - the Devon and Cornwall lines are very slow and they need a lot of upgrading.鈥�
Corbyn said he was working with Camden MP Keir Starmer to assess HS2鈥檚 proposals for a 拢2bn bolt-on station at London鈥檚 Euston station, .
Outlining his concerns at HS2鈥檚 Euston plans, he said: 鈥淭he disruption is enormous. There is a problem with the capacity of the Victoria line to cope with that number of passengers all being p