Opinion

Comment: There are no realistic alternatives to HS2

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Comments

  1. The railway network capacity problem can be solved without affecting a single home if our existing tracks are upgraded to carry more trains. To do this new technology is required so that trains can brake as efficiently as cars.
    Magtrac braking described at http://www.cheshire-innovation.com/Transport%20internet.htm could be the answer we need.

  2. I believe the projected benefits are grossly exaggerated.
    Who knows how business will operate in 20 years time, let alone peoples’ travel arrangements.
    This money can be better used elsewhere in our economy.

  3. We are apparently to accept Mr Naismith’s view on HS2 as not being in any way influenced through his position ‘as part of an industry that is set to prosper from the project’, but please excuse my scepticism. It is predictable I suppose (now it has been lost) how the argument seems to have swung in the past weeks from reaching Birmingham a few minutes earlier to there being widespread national advantages through HS2. According to the Minister, speaking in East Anglia recently, we were expected to believe that even in the Eastern Counties, where we struggle on with vast under-investment in both track capacity and rolling stock, that we would somehow benefit hugely from this colossal white elephant. It is becoming increasingly obvious that this project has no popular support and represents ‘best parlour planning’ at its very worst. I recently listened at a seminar to the project leader of Crossrail (which I strongly favour incidentally) explaining that an extra 30 trains per hour were to be run along the existing railroutes from the capital to Shenfield in the east without any extra track or platforms at all and all this was to be achieved with ‘smart signalling’ (this was not explained unfortunately). On a route already afflicted by congestion and in particular freight traffic crossing the route in the east London area, to become even worse with traffic to be generated by the London Gateway port, I was not the only one in the audience who was waiting to be amazed. If however ‘smart signalling’ (whatever that is), rather than new track is really the answer to running extra trains I wonder why it is not already being practiced elsewhere on the rail network. It would avoid the need for spending £50 billion in one narrow rail corridor of upheaval, whilst in the meantime the rest of the system is left to fester and deteriorate. Put simply, we need more and better trackwork on existing routes, longer platforms, faster, higher capacity and more comfortable trains (not just 35 year old trains repainted), full electrification of all main routes, a full study for creation of more local cross country and metro routes avoiding the need for travel to the capital or other city hubs to reach destinations. Dare I say, a national Beeching reversal plan appropriate to the 21st century!

  4. I recently saw a marvellous proposal for a German style wide canal running from Scotland to the South East. This could solve many issues- freight, movement of water from wet to dry areas of the country, conduits for major services as well as providing a huge leisure facility and providing a far more environmentally friendly/ sustainable solution to transport requirements and many more jobs. Who really needs half an hour less off a journey from London to Birmingham? HS2 is a politicians’ vanity project benefitting a minority of people subsidised by the majority. Stop playing with your train sets boys- spend OUR money wisely. HS2 is not the answer.

  5. A nice attention grabbing headline, but far too passionate and of course utter nonsense. No other realistic alternatives in comparison with what – other transport investments or are we narrowly considering rail investment only.

    This debate needs to be reframed, it is not about a high speed rail project; the broader issue here is concerned with generating GDP growth. Three things in life are certain, death, taxes and there being many other ways to generate £15bn in GDP!

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