MPs are to debate the second reading of the HS2 High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill in the House of Commons on Monday. The debate is expected to start at 3.30pm.

Japanese firm Hitachi has secured £2.7bn of funding for its contract to bring new high speed trains to the East Coast Main Line. Nearly 500 carriages for the class 800 trains for the route will be built creating 730 jobs.  The contract to deliver the trains was agreed with Agility Trains, a consortium of Hitachi Rail Europe and John Laing.