PLANS for a £60 billion north-south rail line through the region with 250mph trains will be presented to the Government either today or tomorrow.

Contained in a report from the High Speed Two (HS2) company set up by the Government, the plans will include a highly detailed route of a new line from central London to the West Midlands.

It would operate from a huge, new station in central London, big enough to handle 14, and eventually 18 trains an hour, each one able to carry 1,100 passengers.

The report, due to be published in the spring, will also present options for a high-speed line, or lines, north of Birmingham up to Scotland.

If accepted by the Government, the first part of the line – from London to the West Midlands – work could start on it by 2017 and will contain tunnels which always add considerably to the cost.

HS2 chief executive Alison Munro said: “The report will set out a case for various options including a possible link with HS1.”

She added: “This will not be a transport project in isolation. The final report will look at how the line will help housing and regional economic development. There will be significant levels of detail.”