Train journey times from London to Scotland could be cut to just over two hours under plans for high-speed lines unveiled by Network Rail yesterday.

The company, which is responsible for the maintenance of track infrastructure, pressed its case for a £34bn investment, which would link the capital to major cities in the Midlands, north west England as well as Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Using trains travelling at 200mph, it would cut the journey time from London to Glasgow from four hours 31 minutes to two hours 16 minutes. Liverpool, which is currently two hours and eight minutes away by train, would be reachable in one hour and 23 minutes.

Daily Telegraph