HS2 critics failing to appreciate need for extra rail capacity

From: David Reed, Houses Hill, Huddersfield.

YOUR correspondents continue to show a basic lack of understanding of the vital need for HS2 (Yorkshire Post, February 20).

The time saving from London to West Yorkshire is not a “few minutes” as repeatedly claimed, but 50 minutes, virtually halving existing times. The journey time from Heathrow to Yorkshire is reduced by two hours.

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Nobody could doubt the independent research forecast that this improvement in connectivity will make the North very much more attractive to inward investors, thereby massively stimulating economic growth in the North.

The prime justification for HS2 is to prevent the capacity disaster that will otherwise engulf our vital North-South main lines in 20 years. The demand for rail transport has doubled in the last 15 years and is set to double again.

Without HS2, your correspondents will be the first to complain when our vital main lines are hopelessly overwhelmed, with no capacity for rail freight to be transferred from motorways and no capacity for much needed new commuter services to cater for the rising population.

It is simply impracticable to provide the capacity needed by tweaking the existing railway. It has been demonstrated that this would cause far too much disruption, would cost more, and could not achieve the capacity increase needed.

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HS2 will provide a magnificent 21st century 200mph railway linking eight of our 10 biggest centres of population. Just as in Europe, high speed rail will be very successful and used by all segments of the population (not just “rich businessmen”).

In the off peak, very attractive low fares will be offered to encourage demand. If you doubt this, just look at very low off peak fares offered now on our existing railway, on HS1 in this country (£30 from London to Paris for example), and all over Europe.

Billions are being spent on new railway infrastructure In London, and this has helped lead to huge economic growth there. Our competitors in Europe are building 5,000 miles of high speed railway. I wonder why your correspondents are so opposed to the UK and the North getting its fair share for a change?

From: Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon.

VARIOUS correspondents seem to wish to perpetuate the myth that the main reason for HS2 is that it will shave a few minutes off the journey time to London.

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This was continued by Robert Reynolds (Yorkshire Post, February 18), who stated that it was “utter folly” to support “a rich man’s train set to get to London 20 minutes faster for £50bn”. This left wing diatribe could not be further from the truth.

Rail travel has boomed over the last 20 years, and is expected to continue to do so for years to come. Capacity is already a huge issue on the present network, and it is therefore imperative that action is taken, through HS2, to solve the problem.

It will also, through taking the pressure off the currently congested East and West Coast main lines, enable a myriad of new journey opportunities to be made available, which will benefit us all.