National issues that affect us all
RAIL 823 once again raises real issues that must be addressed by the whole railway industry - be they national organisations, devolved and local authorities (including those delivering the product and service that is rail), rail companies or the trade unions.
In his Comment, Nigel Harris sets out his view that Network Rail must make every pound count. He is quite right, especially when the Government is intending to spend billions of them on HS2. Judging by what has happened of late with rail projects, I am not holding my breath while awaiting such prudence.
Nigel also lashes out at expenditure spent on road building. He points out the old sayings that new road building induces new traffic, new roads show little evidence of economic benefit to local communities, and new roads cause very significant personal inconvenience and environmental harm.
All the same arguments could be used against the building of HS2. Few of the communities through which HS2 will pass will see any local benefit. We are told that the line has to be built to provide for the passenger increase predicted.
To show balance, I note that the same argument is being used for the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow. All transport infrastructure is built on the principle of ‘predict and provide’.
Christian Wolmar tells us that the British HS2 rail line will run trains at faster speeds than other high speed lines elsewhere.
I just wonder if this project will achieve the alleged gains. To get to Birmingham 20 minutes faster seems a gain of little consequence. If extra rail capacity is needed, is a high-speed railway the answer?
George Osborne was really getting carried away with HS2 and later his ‘Northern Powerhouse’ ideas concerning rail development and economic growth.
At least the problem of capacity on the Pennine Corridor seems as if it is being addressed, with the introduction of longer, locomotivehauled trains to provide extra capacity. In my use of transPennine services in the period 1971-2001, the number of seats provided got progressively less as use of the service expanded.
I am all in favour of increased use of rail transport, but the product must be for the use of us all, not a select elite and rich group. The product must be able to be accessed by all, not just by those with smartphones, internet access and large bank balances.
More of the infrastructure must be sourced and manufactured in the UK. It is, after all, our taxes which are paying for the infrastructure improvements and the equipment.
On that final point, I will ask a question. Who manufactured the new rails being moved by sea to the Far North (Scrabster Harbour), and why was it not possible to move them by rail?
RAIL 823 made for interesting reading. I hope to live long enough to see if HS2 gets beyond Birmingham, read about the chaos around Euston as the station is once again rebuilt, and read how Morocco manages to maintain its new high-speed rail system. Other parts of Africa have failed to maintain recently built conventional rail systems!