The rail industry has welcomed the fact that the Prime Minister pledged her support for investment in the High Speed 2 project that would link London, Birmingham, the East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester.
Mrs May also said that, if elected to power later this month, the Conservatives will increase capacity on trains and ease over-crowding.
Speaking on 25 May, she said: “We will continue our programme of strategic national investments, including HS2. We will focus on creating extra capacity on the railways, which will ease over-crowding, bring new lines and stations, as well as improve existing routes,including for freight.
“We will also increase services on our main lines and commuter routes, and launch new services to places which are poorly served or host major new housing projects.”
Darren Caplan, the CEO of the Railway Industry Association, said that the Conservative’s manifesto is a “vital and welcome step to creating modern railway infrastructure fit for the 21st century.
“The party’s commitment to a programme of strategic national investments will be vital to making sure that current flagship projects like HS2 and Crossrail, and proposed future projects such as HS3 and East West Rail, are a success.
“However, we note with some concern that there is no prominence given to Crossrail 2 in the Conservatives’ manifesto. We would urge the party to offer a clear commitment to this important infrastructure project.”
Should permission be granted, construction is expected to start around 2023, with the new line opening in the early 2030s.
Will Roberts, director of the High-Speed Rail Leaders (HSRL), said that the “full support from all of the UK’s main political parties for HS2 was a good sign for high-speed rail.”
He added: “This unprecedented cross-party support for HS2 is fantastic news, and a real endorsement for Britain’s biggest infrastructure project in a generation.
"The commitment from across the political spectrum, to keep HS2 on track, provides stability for UK rail and infrastructure, and ensures that every part of the country will have a chance to play a part in this important new railway, whoever wins the election.
“With cross-party support, it now means that HSRL members can get on with construction, and deliver a huge economic boost to Britain.”