There is no viable modern alternative to HS2

SIR – Simon Heffer’s criticism of HS2 (Review, February 12) fails to address the problem of lack of capacity on our current railway system.

The alternatives suggested are either not available now or do not provide the capacity.

Meanwhile, the much-vaunted Hyperloop is actually a steel tube, in which air pressure is reduced to enable a capsule inside to travel at high speed. Isambard Kingdom Brunel tried the same sort of thing over 100 years ago, except that the passengers were, at least, outside the tube. Tests so far have failed to achieve anything like the target speeds, and any sort of failure would be extremely dangerous.

Calls to reopen the Great Central Railway have not been thought through. What happens at Aylesbury, where the old Great Central is already used by a busy commuter service to London? The southern end of the HS2 route will have to be built anyway if this proposal is seriously considered.

HS2 uses tried-and-tested kit that is available now, and the scheme provides the capacity required to enable the existing West Coast Main Line, Midland Main Line and East Coast Main Line to provide a muchenhanced service to the intermediate stations, and take a substantial portion of freight off our roads. John H Brook High Peak, Derbyshire SIR – Professor Jeremy Ramsden (Letters, February 12), in his critique of HS2, referred to Japan’s railways – but did not mention the “bullet train” linking Osaka to Tokyo.

The intention was to encourage investment and prosperity in Osaka, but the result was that it encouraged commuting and the major Osakabased companies moved their head offices to Tokyo. A lesson here for the Northern Powerhouse? Paul Knocker Bembridge, Isle of Wight