Well, the service will carry up to 1,100 people per journey with up to 14 trains running per hour tarvelling at speeds of upto 250mph.

The first phase from London Euston/St Pancras to Birmingham will reduce travel time to just 49 minutes a saving of 35 minutes on the current timetable.

The second phase will extend further North to the West to Mancheter and to the East to Leeds saving 48 minutes and 1 hour respectively.

The first phase costs are projected at £18 billion, with services to be offered from 2026. The second phase will increase costs to £34 billion projected to be completed by 2034.

The project is not without its opposition. There are currently 15 listed period properties due to be be demolished as part of the scheme with around 125 hectare of foerst due to be destroyed. As well as this thousands of homes along the route will also be blighted.

Supporters claim that 1 million jobs will be created and £44 billion of benefit will be achieved. However, opposition  claim that the economic benefits stated are not realistic or achievable and that there will be a major negative impact on the environment.