I was alluding to the intent behind the noble Baroness’s amendment. I agree with the noble Lord inasmuch as the detail is something that we have debated before. I am sure that we will return to this this afternoon and, if we continue, on Thursday.
Turning to the nub of the proposals, the noble Lord, Lord Adonis, separated the issues very well. I would separate them further. There is the issue of having a rail link between HS1 and HS2, and then the link between Euston and St Pancras. The noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, and the noble Baroness, Lady Randerson, articulated some ideas. The noble Baroness is correct that there were considerable practical details and environmental impacts in linking HS1 and HS2. However, notwithstanding the recent growth, the benefits of such a link, compared with the costs and impacts, were not considered to make the proposal viable. I will come back to that point in a moment.
There are some international comparisons. In France, for example, the TGV network functions effectively without direct links between the high-speed rail lines in Paris. I was a bit perplexed when the noble Lord, Lord Rosser, started talking about Taiwan; for a moment I thought we were going to get a very imaginative proposal for linking it to Euston—thankfully it did not come to that, but who knows what the future holds? Our perspective on the building of HS2 is certainly that all solutions for linking it to HS1 were considered. Indeed, an international connectivity study was also conducted on improving the potential rail links. One of the issues that arose was around cost. Some of the proposals ranged from about £610 million to £6 billion and it was therefore felt that they did not provide value for money.
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The issue of the link to the North London line, which was also in the contributions of the noble Lords, Lord Berkeley and Lord Snape, and that of the noble Lord, Lord Adonis, who commented specifically on this, was again looked at and I have alluded to some of the costs. Construction costs would have been around £610 million and our analyses showed that this would not have offered good value for money. We also looked at providing passive provision for a link but this was also associated with significant challenges. Noble Lords may well be aware that TfL have also undertaken a study of a range of options for an enhanced walking route between Euston and St Pancras, which are currently being actively considered by the London Borough of Camden. The Government have, I believe, already offered the borough £3 million for enhancing that link.
The noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, also asked specifically about the Select Committee’s proposals to amend the Bill. My understanding is that it is entirely normal procedure for a Select Committee to amend a hybrid Bill; indeed, it is a key part of its function and when setting up it we granted it that particular power. The noble Lord also asked, as did the noble Lord, Lord Rosser, about the Government’s plan to publish their response to the Select Committee’s recommendations. Noble Lords will recall that just prior to the Christmas Recess I convened a pre-briefing on HS2 at which I said that while we would not be able to respond before
Committee, we would endeavour to do so in advance of Report—indeed, I very much hope we will do so next week. While it may not be within the formal procedures of the Bill, I would also like to re-emphasise my offer, if it would be helpful, to hold a briefing session on the Government’s response to the Select Committee’s recommendations in advance of Report. If schedules and diaries allow for it, I am keen to facilitate such a meeting.
Coming back to the London Borough of Camden, let me assure noble Lords, and the noble Baroness, Lady Randerson, in particular, that we are working very closely with it on provisions for linking these two key stations while not ignoring the practical difficulties that presents. As I said, the Government have put money behind exploring these proposals further.
The noble Baroness also suggested a junction between the West London line and Old Oak Common. As she may well be aware, the West London Line Group appeared in front of the Select Committees of both Houses to talk through the benefits of its proposals. Neither committee saw fit to grant the group locus to have its petition heard, but at the locus standi hearings it was able to set out the merits of their proposals. Additionally, DfT officials have met with the group to discuss its proposals further, and those discussions will continue.
Several noble Lords, including the noble Lord, Lord Snape, and the noble Lord, Lord Adonis, who shared his experiences of HS1, asked about the future. I fully accept that HS2 will create a host of opportunities for additional connections to other parts of the rail network, and I am sure that over time many of those will be capitalised on.
As we have heard from the noble Lord, Lord Adonis, opportunities arose after the building of HS1 that were perhaps not envisaged at the time of its construction. HS2 opens up new opportunities, but we must be focused and not look to this Bill to be a panacea to all such proposals, whatever their relative merits may be. By opening up such doors, I fear we would delay the construction of this vital project.
The noble Lord, Lord Rosser, asked about future provision, particularly TfL proposals. I have already alluded to the proposals from TfL for additional stations on the West London line, which would improve interchange possibilities and I hope that those proposals are brought forward in due course. The noble Lord asked specifically about additional stations on the route of HS2. We need to proceed with the current proposals but, as I have said, what the future holds in terms of opportunities opened up after the HS2 line is constructed perhaps cannot be forecast at this time.
I again put on record my appreciation that the noble Baroness’s amendments were intended to be probing. While we evaluated various proposals, we felt them to be too costly and not to offer value for money. However, we are looking at how we can effectively link Euston and St Pancras to assist pedestrians. Several noble Lords have spoken of the importance of connections which ensure that every passenger can go from point A to point B in the most efficient manner. As a father of three children who are 10 and under, I know all too well the challenges of interchanges, whether here in
the UK or elsewhere in the world. However, having outlined some of the challenges, I hope the noble Baroness accepts the assurance I have given that we are working on the ground with Camden to come forward with solutions and that she is therefore minded to withdraw her amendment.