03/12/2009 08:13:00

Proposals detailing the benefits of a high speed rail service for Birmingham have been submitted and, if given the green light, could see the city beginning work to receive such services in 2015.

The Midlands city is not the first to turn its attention to high speed rail travel, with London receiving its first services earlier this year, and it is hoped that the entire UK will be a part of a high speed rail network at some point in the future, catching it up with European countries already installed with the technology.

The proposal suggested that, with the addition of high speed railway lines between Birmingham and London, journeys from the west Midlands to the south east of England could be slashed to less than 45 minutes in length as trains traversing the country at speeds greater than 200mph carry passengers to their destinations.

In order to succeed with such plans, two new stations would need to be built, as it has been agreed that Birmingham New Street - the current main rail hub for the city - would be unsuitable as it is due for a major overhaul. One station would be placed in the city centre with another closer to the airport, providing access to the motorway network and airport terminals.

Campaigners for the station have said that the two station plan makes "perfect sense", the BBC reports.

Director of campaign group Greengauge 21, Jim Steer, said: "There is a very strong case for a city centre station and equally I think they will find, as our work has found, there is a very good case for a station at perhaps Birmingham International Airport."