Davis brands HS2 ‘white elephant’
Ex-Minister calls for plan to be scrapped
TRANSPORT: Former Cabinet Minister and Haltemprice and Howden MP David Davis has criticised the Government’s flagship rail project, HS2, and branded it a “white elephant” that should be scrapped.
FORMER CABINET Minister David Davis has criticised the Government’s flagship rail project, HS2, and branded it a “white elephant” that should be scrapped.
Speaking during Transport Questions in the House of Commons, the Haltemprice and Howden MP confronted Ministers over the billion-pound scheme, suggesting the cash should be spent on upgrading existing stock instead.
The ex-Brexit Secretary was joined in his criticism by Labour MP and former Transport Minister John Spellar, who also demanded the project be axed.
Mr Davis pointed out that just half the money being spent on HS2 would be enough to replace every train in the UK.
He told MPs: “The Minister will be aware that he could replace and upgrade every piece of rolling stock in the country for less than half of the price of HS2.
“So why don’t we just cancel this white elephant and actually give something to the public they want?”
Rail Minister Andrew Jones replied the Government was “doing both” and defended the ambitious project.
He said: “We’re replacing the rolling stock in our country and delivering HS2, which is what we CONCERNS HAVE been raised over whether a pledge by rail chiefs to replace ageing “pacer” trains by the end of 2019 will be honoured.
Operator Northern told a meeting of Yorkshire’s political leaders that it “had a robust plan” to replace the 1980s rail buses by the end of the year.
But the rail bosses stopped short of giving a cast-iron guarantee that it would be delivered within the promised time frame.
Northern spokesperson Paul Barnfield said: “We are not planning on pacers being in service by the end of 2019.”
need to deliver more capacity in our rail market.”
Mr Spellar called on the Minister to dump the “budget-busting” scheme and make small investments in transport priorities across the country instead.
The Labour veteran said an “authoritative” transport study commissioned by the last government “clearly made the case against grand projects”.
He called instead for the department to refocus its efforts on “widespread, incremental improvements”.
He said: “Wouldn’t he be better served to fund not only rolling stock but many other transport improvements now just by scrapping the ever more expensive, budget-busting HS2?”
Mr Jones insisted “it isn’t a question of one or the other” and said HS2 was “required to add capacity” as well as £48bn of “maintenance and enhancements”.
Phase one of the £56bn highspeed rail link will open between London and Birmingham in December 2026 before the railway is extended to Crewe, Manchester and Leeds. HS2 trains are designed to operate at up to 225mph and also serve locations on the existing mainline network, such as Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
But at a meeting with MPs last month, HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Thurston said train speeds and frequency could be reduced in an effort to cut costs.
Concerns over costs have also led to speculation that the northern leg of the scheme could be scrapped – but Mr Grayling last month insisted it would go ahead.
Why don’t we just give something to the public they want?
David Davis, Former Brexit Secretary and Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden