The HS2 legacy

SIR – The Victorians left us with a comprehensive network of rail lines covering the whole country, which, even after the Beeching closures, largely survive today. Those lines were often built against local objections, particularly from large landowners whose land through which they would run. Even after the widespread adoption of private and commercial vehicles, and improvements to roads, demand for train travel remains high.

It seems likely that new climaterelated restrictions will mean a decline in private car ownership and that out-of-town travel will increasingly be made by train. There is nothing to suggest a reduction in the desire to travel in Britain, and HS2 will help to meet that demand. It will also relieve congestion on the existing north-going rail routes out of London, leading to an increasing capacity for freight and goods traffic.

Just as today’s rail network was the Victorian legacy to us, let our legacy to future generations be HS2 with its related connections and extensions. Cdr Richard Howe (retd)

London SW13

SIR – Dr Ken Pollock (Letters, October 23) wishes to retain HS2 because he says that it would free up existing rail lines for more freight trains, each one of which would replace up to 70 HGVs on our roads.

What he fails to mention is that each train would end at a freight terminal. Goods would need to be loaded on to thousands of road freight vehicles for distribution to local depots, causing higher road usage by HGVs.

Mike Laughton

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

SIR – Many, like myself, are wondering why, in such straitened times, the Government continues to commit billions to HS2. Cancel it now and the budget black hole will go some way to being filled.

It would also remove the temptation from our rail unions of choosing a high-profile service to hold hostage in future years in any dispute, real or manufactured.

Graham Whitehead

Liverpool