HS2 train wreck
In November 2016, a survey for ITV found only 15 per cent of the public thought HS2 was worth the official cost of £56 billion. But the actual cost if it goes ahead is likely to be £100bn or more.
Already HS2 Ltd’s property cost estimate has trebled, but even then hundreds of homes have still to be valued, and two years ago the National Audit Office reported that HS2 Ltd was running £7bn over budget. Government-owned HS2 Ltd has 318 staff with salaries over £100,000 a year, with many paid more than the PM.
HS2, if built, will cause massive environmental damage, break up communities and force hundreds to move. It will cost £403 million a mile to save 27 minutes between London and Edinburgh 15 years hence. Furthermore, the project will require 800MW additional electricity capacity at a time when the Government will have closed our reliable coalfired power stations and thousands of new electric vehicles will have to be recharged. Where will this additional power come from?
Britain’s geography is unsuited to 200mph trains. Distances between towns are not great and this passenger only line is planned through scenic areas and valued habitats and will destroy over 60 ancient woodlands. This project, far from narrowing the north-south divide as its acolytes claim, will widen it. London will act even more like a dark star sucking resources from northern Britain.
Then there is the reliability
question of the trains the foreign-owned companies will manufacture.
Scotrail has already faced visibility issues with new Hitachi Class 385 trains. The inaugural Hitachi Class 800 carrying the transport secretary Chris Grayling arrived 40 minutes late after technical trouble and with passengers wet from leaking air conditioning. And these Hitachi Intercity Express (Azuma) bimode trains cause interference with signalling on the East Coast mainline, causing them to slow down. Will ultra high speed, all-electric trains be more dependable? HS2 should be cancelled forthwith. WILLIAM LONESKIE
Justice Park Oxton, Lauder