High Speed Rail (London-Truro) Bill

A

BILL

TO

Construct a new high-speed railway line between London and Truro, and for connected railways and purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Section 1: Powers of Compulsory Purchase

(1) The Secretary of State may, through the provision of ‘Compulsory Purchase’, acquire any such land as may be required for the purposes of the construction and operation of High Speed 4 as laid out in Schedule 1 of this act, its stations and associated infrastructure, subject to the requirements laid out in the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965.

(2) The power under section 1(1) applies to all lands within 500 metres of the track laid out in the map of reference deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments alongside this legislation, or any amended version thereof.

(3) The power under section 1(1) in relation to land may be exercised in relation to the subsoil, under-surface, or the airspace of the land only.

Section 2: Grants

(1) The Secretary of State may pay grants to contribute to the funding of activities or projects that are intended—

(a) to benefit communities that are, or are likely to be, disrupted by the carrying out of relevant high-speed railway works, (b) to benefit the environment in any area that is, or is likely to be, affected by the carrying out of such works, or (c) to support businesses and other economic activities in areas that are, or are likely to be, disrupted by the carrying out of such works.

(2) “Relevant high-speed railway works” means—

(a) the works authorised by this Act, and (b) works in connection with a Bill or proposed Bill to authorise works for a high-speed railway line connecting with High Speed 4.

Section 3: Amendment of Plans

(1) The Secretary of State may, by regulation using the affirmative procedure, amend the stations and tracks as laid out in Schedule One and the map of reference deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments alongside this legislation, unless—

(a) The works in question have already been finished.

Section 4: Construction

(1) The Secretary of State is obliged to work with Network Rail and provide the necessary funding for all costs related to the construction and maintenance of High Speed 4 infrastructure and buildings.

Section 5: Short Title, Extent and Commencement

(1) This act may be cited as the High Speed 4 Act 2022. (1) This Act may be cited as the High Speed Rail (London - Truro) Act 2022

(2) This act shall extend to England.

(3) This act will come into effect immediately after receiving Royal Assent.

S C H E D U L E O N E

Projects relating to High Speed Four

(1) The High Speed 4 project shall consist of five phases—

(a) Phase 1 shall consist of the track between London Paddington station and Reading station, as laid out in the map of reference deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments alongside this legislation, or any amended version thereof. (b) Phase 2 shall consist of the track between Reading station and Salisbury station, as laid out in the map of reference deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments alongside this legislation, or any amended version thereof.
(c) Phase 3 shall consist of the track between Salisbury station and Exeter station, as laid out in the map of reference deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments alongside this legislation, or any amended version thereof. (d) Phase 4 shall consist of the track between Exeter station and Plymouth station, as laid out in the map of reference deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments alongside this legislation, or any amended version thereof. (e) Phase 5 shall consist of the track between Plymouth station and Truro station, as laid out in the map of reference deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments alongside this legislation, or any amended version thereof.

(2) The timetable for finishing the phases is as follows—

(a) Phase 1 shall be finished by the 1st of January 2025.
(b) Phase 2 shall be finished by the 1st of January 2027.
(c) Phase 3 shall be finished by the 1st of January 2029. (d) Phase 4 shall be finished by the 1st of January 2031. (e) Phase 5 shall be finished by the 1st of January 2036.

Explanatory Notes: Phase 1 of this Act has been costed at a total of £740 million over 2 years. Phase 2 of this Act has been costed at a total of £1306 million over 2 years. Phase 3 of this Act has been costed at a total of £1959 million over 2 years. Phase 4 of this Act has been costed at a total of £1001 million over 2 years. Phase 5 of this Act has been costed at a total of £1088 million over 4 years. For a total of £6094 million over 12 years.

Appendix: Link to the HS4 route map.

This Bill was written by The Most Honourable Rt. Hon 1st Marquess of St Ives, 1st Earl of St Erth, Sir /u/Sephronar KBE MVO CT PC on behalf of The Conservative and Unionist Party and is based on the High Speed 3 Act 2022.

Opening Speech:

Deputy Speaker,

High Speed Railways have been becoming more and more common in the United Kingdom over the last few years, with High Speed 2 followed by High Speed 3 - now the next journey on the saga; HIGH SPEED FOUR!

Taking journey times from the extreme South-West to London from the current 5 hour journey time down to a little over an hour, this will REVOLUTIONISE travel and transport from London to an otherwise neglected part of the country in the South West.

This will add so much to both the national, regional, and local economies that it’s hard to imagine why it had not already been done! But I am pleased to present this Bill to you today with indicative figures of how much it will cost and a lovely little route map - all based on the fabulous High Speed 3 Act 2022.

I hope that we all work together to deliver a truly meaningful improvement to transport to the South West, and I commend this Bill to the House.

Amendment 1 (A01)

In Schedule 1(2), amend the dates as follows:

2025 to read 2027
2027 to read 2029
2029 to read 2031
2031 to read 2033
2036 to read 2038

EN: Gives more time for the completion of massive projects. If phases are completed ahead of time, so much the better.

Amendment 2 (A02)

Amend Section 5(3) to read:

"This act will come into effect one year after receiving Royal Assent."

Amendment 3 (A03)

Amend Section 4(1) to read:

"(1) The Secretary of State is obliged to work with Network Rail and other relevant partners and provide the necessary funding for all costs related to the construction and maintenance of the High Speed (London-Truro) Line infrastructure and buildings."

EN: Tidies it up for its new name and makes clear that the Secretary of State may work with other people where necessary

Amendment 4 (A04)

In Section 3(1), replace 'affirmative' with 'negative'

These amendments have been submitted in the name of The Viscount Felixstowe.

Lords may vote Content, Not Content or Present to each amendment.

This division shall end on the 18th November at 10pm GMT.