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(BUTTON) Search with google * Make a contribution * Subscribe * (BUTTON) International edition + switch to the UK edition + switch to the US edition + switch to the Australia edition * Search jobs * Dating * Holidays * Digital Archive * Discount Codes * The Guardian app * Video * Podcasts * Pictures * Newsletters * Today's paper * Inside the Guardian * The Observer * Guardian Weekly * Crosswords * Facebook * Twitter * Search jobs * Dating * Holidays * Digital Archive * Discount Codes Datablog HS2 How will HS2 change journey times to and from London? The head of HS2 wants to start building the northern section of the line earlier than planned, which would mean the journey to Crewe from London would be reduced by over a third as early as 2027. What do planners estimate the differences in journey times to be to other UK cities? George Arnett @grbarnett Mon 17 Mar 2014 11.28 GMT Last modified on Mon 17 Mar 2014 11.57 GMT * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share via Email The proposed site of the HS2 east Midlands hub in Long Eaton [ ] The proposed site of the HS2 east Midlands hub in Long Eaton, on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire border. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA How long will high speed rail take to transport you to Crewe? Well, if the chairman of HS2’s recommendations are accepted then it will be, at the time of writing, approximately 13 years and 58 minutes. Sir David Higgins has called for the construction of the second northern stage of the line to start at a similar time as the southern section from London to Birmingham. This would mean that travellers would be able to travel on the train from the capital to Crewe in just 55 minutes as early as 2027. To recap on the effect of the project, we thought we’d show you the planned reductions in journey times to other important stations from London according to a Department for Transport (DfT) document from January last year. Under the current plans, HS2 should reach northern cities such as Manchester and Leeds by 2032 or 2033, with phase one of the network to Birmingham opening in 2026. IFRAME: https://charts.datawrapper.de/cDjwv/ So the biggest reduction in terms of number of minutes will be Manchester Airport, which will have a huge 75 minutes lopped off its journey time from London. To view the true scale of reduction though, take a look at the chart below. IFRAME: https://charts.datawrapper.de/HvVt9/ That75 minute reduction in journey time to Manchester Airport means that the journey has been reduced by 59%, which is the largest proportional drop. Crewe fares well with a 35.6% reduction. The destinations listed that will have the least change in journey time are the Scottish cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with the latter only losing 12.1% off travelling time. Still having trouble visualising it? Take a look at this animation of a day in the life of Britain’s future rail network that the Datablog published back in 2012. Topics * HS2 * Datablog * Rail transport * Manchester * Birmingham * Sheffield * Glasgow * Edinburgh * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share via Email * Share on LinkedIn * Share on Pinterest * Share on WhatsApp * Share on Messenger * Reuse this content View all comments > (BUTTON) Order by * (BUTTON) newest * (BUTTON) oldest * (BUTTON) recommendations (BUTTON) Show 25 * (BUTTON) 25 * (BUTTON) 50 * (BUTTON) 100 * (BUTTON) All (BUTTON) Threads * (BUTTON) collapsed * (BUTTON) expanded * (BUTTON) unthreaded Loading comments… Trouble loading? (BUTTON) View more comments more on this story * HS2 safeguarding directions legally flawed, high court told Opponents say transport secretary's directions, intended to stop work that could interfere with HS2, could halt project indefinitely Published: 10 Jun 2014 HS2 safeguarding directions legally flawed, high court told * Higher power: HS2 proposals opposed by Church of England Church expresses concern that planned HS2 development would destroy three consecrated burial grounds Published: 1 Jun 2014 Higher power: HS2 proposals opposed by Church of England * HS2 bill clears second reading as senior minister threatens to resign David Lidington, Europe minister and MP for Aylesbury, among Tories who missed Commons vote Published: 29 Apr 2014 HS2 bill clears second reading as senior minister threatens to resign * HS2: at least three Tory ministers to miss key Commons vote Despite being bound by collective responsibility David Lidington, Dominic Grieve and Andrea Leadsom will all miss key vote Published: 28 Apr 2014 HS2: at least three Tory ministers to miss key Commons vote * + HS2 bill likely to pass second reading but Tory rebels will fight another day Published: 28 Apr 2014 HS2 bill likely to pass second reading but Tory rebels will fight another day + MPs debate HS2: Politics live blog Published: 28 Apr 2014 MPs debate HS2: Politics live blog + HS2 backers expect MPs' resounding support as bill moves closer to go ahead Published: 27 Apr 2014 HS2 backers expect MPs' resounding support as bill moves closer to go ahead + HS2 homeowners offered improved compensation Published: 9 Apr 2014 HS2 homeowners offered improved compensation (BUTTON) More more on this story Most popular * News * Opinion * Sport * Culture * Lifestyle IFRAME: /email/form/footer/today-uk + Contact us + Complaints & corrections + SecureDrop + Work for us + Privacy policy + Cookie policy + Terms & conditions + Help + All topics + All writers + Digital newspaper archive + Facebook + Twitter + Advertise with us + Search UK jobs + Dating + Discount Codes Support The Guardian Available for everyone, funded by readers Contribute Subscribe Back to top © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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