A controversial new high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham is approved by the government, which says it will bring major economic benefits.
The first phase of the project would cut London-Birmingham journey times, on 225mph trains, to 49 minutes, Ms Greening said.
This would be followed by a second phase of Y-shaped track reaching Manchester and Leeds by about 2033.
Connections to existing lines should then cut journey times between London, and Edinburgh and Glasgow, to three-and-a-half hours.
