Summary

  • HS2 gets go-ahead

  • Residents 'suffered horrendous wait'

  • 'Once in a generation opportunity'

  • 'Should I stay or should I go?'

  • Route 'brings a bounce'

  • 'A white elephant ruining countryside'

  • The village split down the middle

  • PM's 'cake and eat it' plan

  • 'This must improve journeys for millions'

  • The university with HS2 'on its lawn'

  • The decision and a 'climate emergency'

Live Reporting

  1. Mixed Midlands messages on HS2 and local buses

    Boris Johnson's "cake and eat it" strategy on HS2 and local buses.

    Read More

  2. 'Once in a generation opportunity'

    The leader of Birmingham City Council has welcomed the HS2 announcement, describing it as a "once in a generation opportunity to rebalance the UK economy".

    Curzon St plansHS2 Ltd

    Ian Ward, Labour, said: "The people of the Midlands and the north have been neglected for far too long."

    He described the decision to review the northern stretch of the scheme as "disappointing".

    "We will only truly see the full benefits of HS2 when Birmingham and the Midlands are at the very heart of a national network. So, while today's news is welcome, the simple message for the government now is to get HS2 done. Let this be the end of the delays and uncertainty."

    Councillor Ian Ward, Leader, Birmingham City Council

  3. HS2 gets go-ahead

    And there we have it - after years of proposal, counter-proposal, support and protest, HS2 has been given the green light.

    As recently as a fortnight ago, the future of the high-speed rail project had seemed up in the air. There were reports that the cost of realising the massive change to UK infrastructure had spiralled to £106bn.

    But within the last few minutes, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the project will go-ahead.

    You can read more about the announcement here, and remind yourself of the project's route - and numbers - here.

    But what of the view in the West Midlands, where the line will cut through a swathe of the region to link London to Birmingham? What do rail passengers think, and what's the reaction of those who live near the route?

    We'll be bringing you the thoughts of the proponents and detractors throughout the afternoon.