11 March
Responding to the announcement on High Speed Rail -
ICE Director General, Tom Foulkes, said:
The commitment outlined today is a positive step - High Speed Rail has huge economic and environmental potential and could also free up capacity on a network that is already stretched. However, High Speed Rail must be part of a wider, integrated transport plan that offers people real choice and reduces car dependency.
High Speed Rail will also need a secure, predictable source of funding and ICE will continue to push for a National Infrastructure Investment Bank or similar funding mechanism, to ensure vital infrastructure projects like this are built without putting strain on the public purse or compromising other projects.
Such an ambitious project demands the very strongest commitment, both politically and financially. Political wrangling must be avoided and cross party consensus achieved to give the public more confidence and speed up delivery. ICE is keen to help facilitate this consensus.
ENDS
Notes
ICE will be responding to the White Paper.
Kate Ison,
ICE Media Relations Officer,
t: 020 7665 2104,
e: kate.ison@ice.org.uk
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) was founded in 1818 to ensure professionalism in civil engineering. It represents 80,000 qualified and student civil engineers in the UK and across the globe. The ICE has long worked with the government of the day to help it to achieve its objectives, and has worked with industry to ensure that construction and civil engineering remain major contributors to the UK economy and UK exports.