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Mikeyb   09/01/2014 at 18:00

Investment from China is indeed welcome, providing they do not demand that, in return, the line is constructed by Chinese companies and eventually owned and operated by Chinese State Railways. HS2 has to be part of Network Rail or whoever owns the British rail network when the line is complete in 30 years time - preferably a state-owned or private sector UK company!

Jb   10/01/2014 at 18:47

I think you can expect that this investment would entail the purchase of Chinese trains and other equipment in return. Why else would they offer it? If this unnecessary line is to be built at all, the rolling stock and other equipment should be manufactured and supplied by British firms which desperately need the business and in order to employ as many Britons as possible. We can build our own trains - and export them to reduce our national debt - thank you very much!

Mikeyb   12/01/2014 at 16:06

Yes Jb, you are probably right. I think the Chinese have seen Hitachi Rail investing in the UK with their train assembly plant at Newton Aycliffe and are worried that they are going to fall behind their Japanese rivals in Europe.