Latest Rail News

20.08.10

Hundreds call for High Speed Rail 2 to be scrapped

Following a Treasury initiative which allowed voters to email their suggestions of how they would like the government to reduce its spending, hundreds have called for the high speed rail link to be scrapped.

Many have complained that the high speed rail would only benefit wealthy business people and would either give little or no benefit at all to the vast majority of the population.

One post said: “At a time when we are looking to cut back and ensure any expenditure is absolutely necessary, spending billions on the HS2 rail plans do not seem sensible.”

Another post questioned the need for such a railway line, given the technology will eliminate the need for much business travel in the future. It said: “No weight is given to the importance of IT, which will result in a dramatic decline in the need to travel for both business and social purposes.

“Surely our success for the future requires that we move data at more rapid speeds and allow people to communicate more effectively without the need to travel great distances.”

(Image courtesy of Priestman Good)

Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]

Comments

Gb   13/10/2015 at 23:40

Has the Transport Secretary ever explained how HS2 will be of benefit to the economy? All we hear are bland statements that it will 'equalise' North and South, etc., but with no concrete facts about the establishment of any new businesses with large noumbers of staff needing to make all these high speed journeys - every day. I think it would be far better to spend taxpayers' money on targetted improvements to the existing rail system to improve capacity and connectivity, including re-opening main lines (and some branch lines) closed in the late 1960s, to provide access to the rail system throughout the country for as many people as possible rather than for a few living at the extremities - who already have that facility anyway. Creating such disruption to the landscape and thousands of peoples' lives and property for the sake of cutting 30 mins from the journey time from London to Birmingham seems rediculous to me and selfish in the extreem. The Govt. should re-examine the rail system's priorities and then spend the money saved by not building HS2 on the NHS, the Police and other public services in dire need.

JMS   16/04/2016 at 17:21

Could not agree more with Gb. In this period of austerity how can this Government justify spending so many millions on HS2 to cut a few minutes off journeys being taken by "business men" not we ordinary folk and cut funds to the NHS resulting in a friend of mine having her cancer operation cancelled three times. She has now been waiting 15 weeks and has now to have another scan to see how far it has spread!! Scandalous!, Words fail me - priorities!!! Who voted them in!!!

David Dye   22/08/2016 at 20:25

Totally agree. Waste of money. Make sure you speak to your local MP and if he voted for it, tell him he won't be getting your vote, next election, unless he works hard to stop hs2.

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