 Phase 1 of the project to Birmingham is due to open in 2026, with the line set to go as far as Manchester and Leeds by 2033.Government-backed plans to provide east-west high-speed services between cities in the North of England are also in their early stages of development, as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project.Trains currently travel at 125 mph (200 km/h) on the East Coast Main Line, Great Western main line, Midland Main Line, parts of the Cross Country Route, and the West Coast Main Line.