Britain's high-speed rail line begins its long journey

The British government on Monday published a bill paving the way for an ambitious new high-speed railway, although concerns about its cost, usefulness and environmental impact may still scupper the plan. The £50-billion (59-billion-euro, $80-billion) High Speed 2 (HS2) north-south line across England is the country's biggest infrastructure project for 30 years and is planned to be built in two stages from 2016, completing in 2033. Ministers say the line is vital for economic growth, easing congestion and boosting business by improving links between London and the cities of Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. The size of the bill published on Monday is evidence of the complexity of the project, comprising 300-odd pages of legislation and another 49,000 detailing the environmental impact of the line.

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