Cameron: HS2 opponents should see 'bigger picture' His comments came as MPs on the Transport Select Committee called on the government to examine the case for building the high speed train line from north to south and radically overhaul the project's timetable. Under current plans, HS2 will see 225mph trains running on a new line from London to Birmingham by 2026, and a second phase will see the line extended further north with branches to Leeds and Manchester by 2033. The MPs told Sir David Higgins, the incoming chairman of HS2 Ltd, to examine options for speeding up the timescale so that trains can run from Birmingham to the North significantly earlier, and said he should consider building the northern and southern sections of the line concurrently. The economic, transport and political case for building from north to south at the same time as south to north - a proposal raised by Sir David in his evidence to the committee in October - has "strengthened" in recent years, they said in a new report. The MPs also claimed more should be done to boost transport links from other parts of the country to the high speed network, allowing as many people as possible to share the benefits. Joe Rukin, Stop HS2 Campaign Manager, said: "It was clear that this inquiry was going to be a cheerleading whitewash when the Transport Committee only called people who support HS2 to give evidence. The level of complete denial in this report shows it is all about spin and trying to con the public, against the reality that the case for HS2 is falling apart. The Government has come under growing pressure to reign in spending on the £50 billion project and countryside campaigners have expressed anger about the amount of green spaces that will be destroyed as a result of the railway. Mr Cameron said: "Obviously it is always difficult when a train line is crossing an area without necessary large stations in that area, it is always difficult. If we don't go for things like high-speed rail we'll see an overheating economy in the South East and London rather than what I want to see, which is a balanced recovery where every part of our country can join in.