High speed rail journeys from London to Scotland have become more likely with the commissioning of a report into the feasibility of the project.

Continental Europe is riddled with high-speed rail networks, with France and Spain being the biggest beneficiaries with connections between Lyon and Paris or Madrid and Seville. However, the UK can show only one tiny stretch of high-speed railway track which serves more as a brake for the Eurostar on its way into the capital.

This could all be about to change with all of the main political parties in the UK in agreement that Britain needs a fast-rail network similar to those found elsewhere in Europe. There is general agreement that such a network could drastically shorten journey times while boosting the local economy and slashing carbon emissions at the same time.

The British government has commissioned the report to examine the possibility of a fast-rail network and to propose possible routes. The report will be headed by Sir David Rowlands who is a strong believer in the system. Rowlands will give ministers three options including a Heathrow link. The report will be submitted next month but not released to the public until March next year to allow time for political jostling.

There is still some debate as to whether the new scheme will deliver on its potential to reduce times, costs and emissions. The project also comes with a hefty price-tag of between £20 and £30 billion.

Rowlands recommends that ministers choose the route which proposes running from London up to Birmingham then splitting to reach Manchester and eventually Glasgow while the second route will head east towards Newcastle and on to Edinburgh.