Huge disruption caused by HS2 construction has not been costed

From: Nigel Sarbutts, Bury.

BOB Watson complains about HS2 myths and then makes a number of claims that can be disproven by reading documents published by HS2 itself (The Yorkshire Post, April 29).

For example, he writes “when it is thoroughly investigated, it is clear that [upgrading the existing network] would be hugely disruptive, and could close parts of our inter-city network every weekend for 30 years”.

Aside from repeating a claim which has never been substantiated and ignoring that parts of the network are routinely closed for days at a time, he fails to mention that HS2 requires Euston to lose a third of its approach lines during construction. This will hugely reduce its capacity for several years. He fails to mention the disruption of years of construction of scores of new crossings of roads, motorways and rail lines.

Needless to say this economic disruption is not costed in the business case.

From: Ian Heselgrave, Church Lane, Swillington.

HS2 is not needed, as the last week has shown (The Yorkshire Post, April 23). We are trying to go green. HS2 is just the fat cats cashing in. We need to stop and just look at what is important – social care – so we have proper care from cradle to grave.

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James Mitchinson

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