The UK's transport secretary has outlined plans to help make 2010 "the year of high-speed rail" in Britain.
Andrew Adonis said the country's high-speed rail network currently lags behind that of other European nations, putting businesses and consumers at a disadvantage.
However, after taking delivery of a new independent report on the future of rail transport in the UK, he said the next 12 months will see a number of major developments.
"I am excited about the possibilities that high-speed rail has to transform transport in this country for the better, providing environmental benefits, encouraging investment and boosting business and jobs," Mr Adonis commented.
He added that scrutiny of the report will begin immediately, with plans for taking high-speed rail forward in the UK set to be announced by the end of March.
The paper, produced by High Speed Two, includes detailed proposals for a north-south high-speed line from London to the West Midlands, as well as extensions to current services.
According to reports, construction on the high-speed link, which would carry trains travelling in excess of 200mph, would begin in 2017 with a projected completion date of 2025.
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