article_snippet: the country'
  Ed Balls said Labour could delay HS2 going any further than Birmingham in favour of a new East-West line .
article_snippet: the country'
  Ed Balls said Labour could delay HS2 going any further than Birmingham in favour of a new East-West line.
article_snippet: But the country'
  Ed Balls said prioritising the second phase of HS2 – which would connect Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds
article_snippet: Labour had previously backed HS2, which could cost more than £50 billion, even though the country'
  Ed Balls was known to have doubts about it.
article_snippet: Instead, the country'
  Ed Balls said Labour would bring bring forward plans similar to the so-called HS3, a proposed new line linking the North East and North West.
article_snippet: Labour had previously backed HS2, which could cost more than £50 billion, connecting London to Manchester and Leeds via Birmingham .
article_snippet: Chancellor George Osborne also supports HS3 but construction is unlikely to begin until after HS2 is completed in 2033.
article_snippet: the country'
  Ed Balls said: 'I don't understand this proposal for HS3.
article_snippet: And our view is that it shouldn't be HS3 - it should be done before the second phase of HS2HS2. '
article_snippet: The idea that improving links between Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds and Newcastle, that that should wait until after our have done HS2, I don't think makes sense.'
article_snippet: And I would say to anyone who says there isn't a case for HS2, try getting on the train from Birmingham to London or London to Birmingham and see how many people are standing, see how much extra capacity our need.