250 mph trains in Bucks

If the project is cleared, the new line will mean journey times between London and Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield will come down from around 2 hours 10 minutes now to 75 minutes when the new network is in place. London to Glasgow and Edinburgh journey times would be reduced to just three and a half hours.

The government's promising people who are worried they'll end up living near the new line that they will have a chance to express their concerns to bosses during a public consultation due to start in the autumn.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis thinks the new link will be good for the environment:

"High speed trains emit far less carbon than cars or planes per passenger mile and the local impact of high-speed lines is far less than entirely new motorway alignments in terms of land-take and air quality."

The Labour MP for South-West Milton Keynes, Phyllis Starkey, has welcomed the announcement, as she thinks it will free up space on the West Coast Mainline:

“I know how overcrowded commuter services are at present and how difficult it is to add in new peak time services between Milton Keynes and London because the West Coast Main Line is so congested."

“That is why I welcome the proposed High Speed 2 which would allow seven non-stop services and five stopping services an hour from Milton Keynes to London at peak hours.”

Meanwhile Buckinghamshire County Council says it is frustrated and dissapointment about the announcement.

Leader of Buckinghamshire County Council, David Shakespeare, said: 'It's ironic that HS2 will give Buckinghamshire all the environmental disadvantages while promoting economic benefits elsewhere. Our residents won't benefit as the trains will pass through the county without stopping, simply leaving Buckinghamshire with huge damage to our environment and Green Belt.'

Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Planning & Environment, Martin Tett, said the County Council will fight the decision.

The dark blue line shows the proposed route through Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire