Vital to get shorter rail routes right

SO the Government has decided to scrap the Leeds leg of HS2, kicking it into the long grass whilst a further study is undertaken on what future passenger numbers are likely to be.

It is not a U-turn I oppose for it would never, like the rest of this investment in public travel, make a penny profit during its lifetime.

Yes, it would have created jobs, yes it would have caused a lot of misery to householders during construction, but of payback, not a chance.

However, the new plan for new high-speed lines between Birmingham and East Midlands Parkway and the projected high-speed link between Warrington and Marsden have the potential to be profitable, and can be constructed at a much lower cost, Government suggesting that a saving of £18 billion can be made.

The advent of Covid has caused a lot of re-thinking where travel is concerned.

The projected upgrading of the existing East Coast line will provide additional capacity, so the North-East is not being starved, and when coupled to the benefits that will accrue with substantial investments in the existing cross-Pennine lines, the benefits will be felt by coast-tocoast travellers in the region.

In a sense, therefore, the scrapping of the Leeds leg is not all bad news, especially for the Treasury.

I have always been opposed to the building of HS2 on the grounds that it would, and is, causing a lot of disturbance to both business and home owners.

It will be a white elephant, shortfall having to be made up by the tax-payer.

It was a Cameron dream of leaving behind him a “monument”.

He should have chosen the power-producing Severn

Barrage.

If Government is really sincere in getting people to travel by train, then it will be the shorter routes that will attract passengers, so reopening Beeching lines and stations should be their priority.

The highly profitable reopened Border line from Edinburg to Tweedbank points the way.