HS2 GOING AHEAD

The announcement by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson is absolutely fantastic news.

It will demonstrate that we are determined to present a Global Great Britain to access all parts of the UK

Appendix D was published in the response to the Dominic Cummings

IT ISFANTASTIC NEWS

 

APPENDIX D

HS2 – A National Asset

Once upon a time I worked in Manchester (and lived in Macclesfield Cheshire). I would commute from Macclesfield to London perhaps once per week. The train service was good and I was able to be in the London Office for a meeting by 10am

On moving to London I would commute by car, as I had parking facilities. When I went by train I was invariably late. I spent a considerable amount of time in the HoC. Times have changed for the London commuter

On going to Brussels as a Member of the European Economic and Social Committee the only way I could get into my London office and then commute to Brussels. Was travel by car to a London airport and then to fly.

But then Eurostar came along and the 5 hour journey became a tolerable experience leaving from Waterloo

However once Eurostar became “high speed” and departing from St Pancras the journey, even on a daily commute, became a pleasure.

The point is that

• Throughout the above it was possible to work uninterrupted. WiFi access became available
• Able to read legislation which I was following
• Relax in modest comfort

Eurostar is a high speed venture (HS1) and has become a national asset. (OK half owned by the French).

As we move to a more global outlook, aimed at creating a more prosperous UK and attracting inward investment, not just for the area around London, but joining up the four  nations of the UK mainland (Northern Ireland needs a different infrastructure programme) we need to demonstrate not just to our own population but also to those wishing to invest and visit the UK that we have a programme for efficient, speedy and cost effective rail and air transport.

The HS2 project appears to have stalled in some ways and I might conclude that there have been those who from the start have not been in favour of the high speed idea.

HS2 and the continuation of the line to Manchester and Leeds – then eventually to Liverpool and into Scotland. In addition eventually a high speed modern service East to West and into North Wales and a future project into the South West of England, East Anglia and South Wales.

We need to accept that our current rail infrastructure is at full capacity for rail passengers and cargo transport too

In addition that conventional local rail services can be joined up with high speed destinations and must evolve at the same time

Such ventures will demonstrate to the global community that the UK is open for business. Our transport services need to be well developed

By uncertainty and delay the budget will by default keep going up. We should move ahead but in a determined way to (sorry about this) – “GET HIGH SPEED RAIL DONE”

Those who are not enthusiastic about HS2 need to take into account the perception of a high speed asset in a modern Global United Kingdom. (Remember that EU member states like Germany, France and Italy already have high speed rail and they will be competitive towards the inward investment we are hoping to get.

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