LEGISLATION for the first phase of the HS2 high-speed rail project has passed its final hurdle.

The parliamentary bill to build the line from London to Birmingham received royal assent yesterday, Thursday, opening the way for construction work to begin.

It had more than three years of scrutiny, including a failed 11th-hour bid to defeat it in the House of Lords last month.

Phase one of the £55.7 billion scheme is scheduled to open in December 2026, with a second Y-shaped phase which will see the line pass through Lowton and Wigan town centre launching in two stages.

Phase 2a from the West Midlands to Crewe will open in 2027 and phase 2b, from Crewe to Manchester and from the West Midlands to Leeds, South Yorkshire and the East Midlands, will begin operation in 2033.

Greater Manchester's interim mayor Tony Lloyd welcomed the the parliamentary approval for phase one and hopes the second phase will follow suit in due course.

He said: "I warmly welcome Parliament’s approval of the HS2 route’s first phase.

"This is a major milestone but it is now crucial that HS2’s second phase, up to the north of England, becomes a reality as soon as possible.

“HS2 is an integral part of our strategy to create real opportunities for people in the north and rebalance the UK economy.

"We estimate that High Speed Rail will help to bring up to 180,000 new jobs to our city-region by 2040 and add £1.3 billion to Greater Manchester’s economy.

“However people in the north also expect high speed rail that connects our great cities to be a priority.

“In a week when experts reminded us that transport infrastructure investment in London is four-and-a-half times that of the north, real progress on east to west high speed rail within the north is essential."

Construction work on phase one is set to begin in the spring.

When the section is completed it is expected to nearly triple the number of rush-hour seats on the route from 11,000 to about 30,000.

Most intercity trains will run on the HS2 network, allowing more commuter services on the West Coast line.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling described the process of getting the legislation through Parliament as 'long and arduous' and said getting the go-ahead to start construction is a 'massive boost' to the UK’s future economic prosperity.

He added: “HS2 will be the world’s most advanced passenger railway and the backbone of our rail network.

“Royal assent is a major step towards significantly increasing capacity on our congested railways for both passengers and freight, improving connections between the biggest cities and regions, generating jobs, skills and economic growth and helping build an economy that works for all.”

Sir David Higgins, chairman of HS2 Ltd, the firm responsible for developing the scheme, said: “We have a long journey ahead of us to build the railway and secure permission for phase two to make sure that the full benefits of HS2 are realised.”

Camden Council leader Sarah Hayward said the local authority, residents and businesses challenged the HS2 bill 'every step of the way'.

The area will be home to the network’s London terminus at Euston station.

Ms Hayward said the council was 'proud to have successfully secured significant concessions' including replacement homes for council tenants, noise insulation, limits on construction vehicle emissions and a £3.5 million Camden community fund.

Joe Rukin, campaign manager at Stop HS2, claimed the parliamentary bill receiving royal assent was 'a triumph of spin over evidence-based policy'.

He said: “This is a terrible project which will not deliver on its promises, come in years late, miles over budget, create havoc during construction and have disastrous environmental consequences.

"The fight against phase two of HS2 will continue.”