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CLIMATE campaigners began a seven-day protest march along the 125-mile proposed route of the HS2 high-speed rail link from Birmingham to London on Saturday.
More than 80 environmental activists assembled outside Birmingham Curzon Street station, the planned terminus for phase 1 of the project, to set off on the “Rebel Trail” march, which has been organised by the Extinction Rebellion climate campaign network.
Most trade unions back the high-speed rail project, which is seen as a way to cut down on domestic flights and free up rail capacity to shift freight away from more polluting road transit. But XR plans to set up protest camps in ancient woodlands which they say will be destroyed by HS2.
The marchers are wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words “NHSNotHS2.”
Phil Kingston, 84, from Christian Climate Action, who joined for the first mile, said: “I came here today for my grandchildren — they are in a very dangerous place with temperatures rising by three degrees and there is no sign of that being stopped, and that worries me sick.
“I want them to be on an Earth which is nurturing, sustaining, giving them wellbeing and security. We are on a finite planet and we are using up all our resources.
“HS2 is something that makes no sense at all — costing billions of pounds to cut 29 minutes off a journey destroying woodland on the way and contributing to the climate crisis. It must be stopped.”
Victoria Lindsell, who lives near ancient woodlands facing destruction, said: “We’re delighted that so many people have turned out today, and more people will be joining along the way, to call to stop HS2, this most destructive project.”