The Government's HS2 high-speed rail plan was today backed by the House of Commons transport committee following its inquiry into the £34 billion project.

But the committee's approval came with a number of provisos including MPs urging supporters and opponents of the scheme to desist from name-calling and terms such as "Nimbys" and "Luddites".

The committee said there was a "good case" for HS2 which would feature 250mph, 1,100-passenger trains running from London through the north-west corner of Oxfordshire to Birmingham and then on to north-east and north-west England and Scotland.