Do we need HS2?

Date - 23 Sep 2010

There has been much discussion in the media about the HS2 the high speed rail line linking London with the Midlands and the North. Total costs for the project may exceed £20 billion and many people are asking the question whether the money could be better spent.

Looking around the current British railway network there is plenty of scope for improvement and I would argue that the money spent of HS2 would have far greater impact on rail travel if the money was wisely spent on improving the existing infrastructure and train service levels. There is also the argument that the proposal lacks complete integration into the European high speed network and is typical of Britain’s go it alone railway policy.

Looking at the existing railway network pressure has been growing in three key areas. Firstly increased investment in rolling stock and associated electrification so that the current fleet of ageing diesel multiple units can be retired. Secondly, significant improvements to capacity and infrastructure outside of London and on cross-country routes are needed. For example, the Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds to Newcastle corridor needs massive improvements in line speed particularly between Manchester and Leeds. Thirdly investment to supplement freight capacity across the network as the most common excuse for the lack of new freight services seems to be argued on a lack of suitable paths.

It is not difficult to see that improvements of the type suggested above would have much greater impact on the travelling masses rather than providing an elitist high speed rail link that in many respects mirrors the recent costly upgrade of the West Coast main line! Try travelling any cross-country route and you soon realise that standards fall far short of the London-centric focus of mainlines to the capital. Let’s make Birmingham to Stansted, Manchester to Norwich, and Liverpool to Leeds equal partners in the network with significant improvements in speed, train quality and service levels. This way we would benefit rail as a whole rather than place our bets on a new singular high profile railway line.