HS2 trains could be run by the Chinese
MINISTERS were under fire last night after shortlisting a stateowned Chinese group to run HS2.
The row erupted after Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced that the keys to Britain’s biggest ever infrastructure project could be handed to a consortium of Hong Kong firm MTR and the Guangshen Railway Company.
One Tory MP said the Government should be giving as much opportunity to UK firms as possible at such a critical time for the economy. Another said the whole project should be halted for a public inquiry.
The Government announced that three groups remain in the running to operate the West Coast Partnership franchise. This will include services on the existing West Coast route from 2019 and initial HS2 trains between London and Birmingham from 2026.
Two bids are by partnerships between UK and foreign rail companies but the most controversial is by the Chinese Hong Kong consortium. It does not have any British involvement.
Awarding the contract to the Chinese would also be politi- cally charged. The Government has already been accused of compromising national security after handing China a stake in the Hinkley Point nuclear plant in Somerset.
But critics said their main concern was the prospect of British operators being frozen out of HS2. Andrew Bridgen, Tory MP for North West Leicestershire said: ‘This is the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken in the UK. If it ends up being mainly built and operated by foreign companies this further diminishes the benefits to Britain.’
Sir Bill Cash, Tory MP for Stone in Staffordshire, said: ‘At this critical moment for our economy it is absolutely essential we give the maximum opportunities to UK engineers and manufacturers.’
Cheryl Gillan, Tory MP for Chesham and Amersham said: ‘Everything needs to be halted – there needs to be a full government review of this project.’ Lib Dem transport spokesman Jenny Randerson called the shortlist as a ‘kick in the teeth for British industry’.
The shortlist may reflect concerns that UK companies do not have enough expertise in running high speed trains.
The row is the latest controversy surrounding HS2 which has encountered fierce opposition and been criticised as a waste of money in a series of damning reports.
The Department for Transport said all three bids feature ‘UK rail experts’. A spokesman added: ‘We want partners who are the very best, regardless of where they are based.’
Unions are plotting more chaos on Southern after a report blamed them for causing more than a year of disruption on the service.
Drivers’ union Aslef said it would vote on a strike at the end of next month and the RMT union said guards will stage a 24-hour walk out on July 10. The report by Network Rail veteran Chris Gibb said the unions were the ‘primary cause’ of the misery endured by passengers.
‘Kick in the teeth for industry’
EEYORE is back. For months after the EU referendum, Philip Hammond was like the glum donkey for whom the whole world looked bad.
But after his predecessor’s pessimistic outlook for the economy was proven so very wrong, the Chancellor – for a brief period at least – discovered some optimism.
Sadly that has passed and, saved from the sack by the election result, he has reverted to type, claiming firms are not investing because they fear a ‘cliff edge’ Brexit.
Yes, there may be choppy waters ahead, but the economy remains robust. Indeed, a CBI survey found manufacturing demand is at its highest for 30 years.
So is it too much to ask Mr Hammond to stop talking Britain down? THIS week the Mail revealed that 4,000 headteachers signed a letter complaining their schools are ‘cash-starved’. Today we reveal that 1,300 headteachers earn at least £100,000 a year, 100 more than a year ago. It’s a funny old world! THIS paper has long had grave doubts about the wisdom of spending an eye-watering £56billion on HS2, when our existing infrastructure is crying out for cash. But as ministers consider bids to run the line – including from a Chinese consortium – is it too much to hope that a British company could be involved?