High Speed 2 chiefs: Delays could jeopardise scheme (From Bucks Free Press)

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  Chiltonians wrote:
  

  wayneo wrote:

  padav wrote: @Malc London - the arguments advanced by anti-HS2 brigade campaigners revolve almost exclusively around the large headline budget figure forecast for its construction. It's a convenient vehicle to bash the HS2 project because by its very nature it is long-term and therefore speculative in nature - no one can predict the future with absolute clarity and the further forward you look the more uncertain any forecast becomes. This provides the anti-brigade with wonderful opportunities to score points into seemingly open goals. None of that diminishes the case for HS2. In the late 50s and 60s the beginnings of a comprehensive UK wide motorway network were laid - doubtless causing much anguish for those whose properties and idyllic lifestyles were disrupted - today we take the connectivity and convenience provided by the UK motorway network for granted without a second thought - it is (for better or worse) considered simply as part of progress. High Speed Rail faces in the UK now faces exactly the same profound crossroads of choice - do we embrace it or simply turn away. Those against, virtually all of them motivated by naked self-interest - the new line is impacting on them through close proximity, now attempt to distort and manipulate public opinion to side with their concerns. I believe this is short termist and self defeating in nature. Once HS2 is underway and even more so when in operation, the vast majority of succeding generations will see its construction (and the extensions it will doubtless spawn to provide a more comprehensive UK-wide HSR network) as prescient and wise. You disagree (because the line comes quite close to you?) - only time will tell who is correct.

  Ah, progress, yes didn't the motorway significantly contribute to the demise of many branch line Railways? Far from it being progress, it seems there's a never-ending circle of f%ck ups with the whatever being 'flavour' of the month, each time contributing to the demise and at the expense of another.It's not progress, it's removing and limiting of choice. I'm not even sure how you can compare HS2 with the motorway. How many junctions does the motorway network from High Wycombe to Birmingham have compared to that being being proposed with HS2? Lastly, aren't you going to answer Gibbshome?

  I think the VERY plan IS that HS2 will lead to the demise of some forms of transport and travel. Thus: redution in long distance travel by car/road; reduction in short distance flights; reduction in lorry haulage (more use of rail freight); and will result in more people using better and more regular local train services.

  More use of rail freight?????
  
  Are you sure about that?
  
  Railfreight was ruled out from HS2 due to it being slower in nature, Hammond seemed to think there MIGHT be a possibility that extra capacity as a result of all of these so called users using HS2 could be used for rail but that's clearly NOT the intention of HS2 in the first place.
  
  Again, if the plan of HS2 is to see the demise of other forms of travel, then not only does that have an adverse impact on the economy but it also reduces choice.
  
  Pretty ironic really that the same thing happened with the branch lines of the railway only for demand locally to be calling for their return. People don't necessarily want speed, they want choice and competitive pricing, It is evident to me that HS2 will do neither."
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