Don’t be too quick to dismiss benefits of HS2

SIR – Gerry Doyle (Letters, July 24) queries the purpose of HS2.

Capacity is the reason for building new infrastructure; speed is the opportunity that follows. The alternative is to perpetuate the constraints of the twisting, congested West Coast Main Line (WCML).

HS2’s journey-time savings – 35 minutes for the journey from London to Birmingham and almost an hour for the journey to Manchester – are not “minimal”, as Mr Doyle suggests.

Once the fast trains are moved to the new route, the WCML can focus on what it is best at – commuters, interurban travellers and freight. William Barter Towcester, Northamptonshire SIR – Mr Doyle’s suggestion that the existing lines’ capacity could be increased by re-engineering the infrastructure for double-decker passenger stock is not practical.

Double-decker carriages do not provide double the number of seats. Space has to be provided for stairs and stairwells at both levels.

More importantly, dozens of overbridges would have to be rebuilt, some carrying trunk roads and motorways. This would take many costly years.

To rebuild the tunnels would take even longer. There are many other structures above the existing railways, including the superstructure for overhead electrification, which would need to be modified. The taller rolling stock would not be able to work over other parts of the railway system.

It is quicker, less expensive and simpler to build a completely new railway. Those who worry about the noise and the visual impact on the countryside need only to look at HS1, which is quieter and less conspicuous than a modern major road. Keith Ferris Coxheath, Kent