The press understates major benefits of HS2 (From Bucks Free Press)
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The press understates major benefits of HS2
11:50am Saturday 4th February 2012 in Your Letters
THE first phase of HS2 isn’t just “A line from London to Birmingham”. I think I should start by giving a true description of the first phase of HS2, which will be a new line from London to the West Midlands with a connection to the West Coast Main Line near Lichfield and a branch line to Birmingham city centre.
It is true to say that this is bit of a mouthful so it’s understandable why the press find it easier to describe it as a “A line from London to Birmingham”.
However whilst it is understandable that it makes for a better title, the fact that the first phase of HS2 will provide services all the way north to Glasgow from day one is never explained. Why is it that reporters prefer not to allude to the services further North is mystery to me, perhaps it’s just lazy reporting? I don’t know.
It’s not as if the so-called “classic compatible” services which will use the HS2 line and the WCML to provide services to places such as Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow from day one are buried under pages and pages of technical text. No, they were set out clearly in the consultation documents released early in 2011.
The fact that the press decided to use the same description over and over again plays straight into the hands of local protest groups who have been telling anyone who will listen that (and I quote) “HS2 is a stand-alone project serving only two cities”.
The truth is, though, that despite the first phase joining the West Coast Main Line close to Lichfield the benefits of this line will be felt all the way up to Glasgow — because of the journey time savings over the new high speed line between London and Lichfield. The services provided will reach ten large settlements and service a population of over 12million people from day one.
People do not have to take my word for it, the information is there in the HS2 documentation for all to see.
I just wish the press would be willing to add in this minor detail into the stories that are continually being written about HS2 on a daily basis.
Chris Howe (Campaign Manager Yes to HS2), by email
Comments(2)
Chiltonian
says...
10:56pm Wed 22 Feb 12
WhiteKnight2012 says...
9:21am Sun 5 Feb 12
So with that stated and out of the way.
Let us ignore the shouting of the NIMBY's, yes they exist, but they are the rich, privileged Tory elites who also rant on in favour of such rural "idylls" as fox hunting.
Let us return to the facts.
£32 Billion is a lot of money - could it be spent more wisely for Britain?
Yes.
How?
Invest in schemes which mean people do NOT have to actually travel. Also modify existing infrastructure where they DO have to travel. So:-
Telecommuting centres in rural areas of low employment - Call centre workers, IT & Backoffice staff & the like can work anywhere, they do not need to travel great distances from their homes and certainly not into the Metropolis'.
Grants for Teleconferencing/Tel
epresence systems. These are so good now it really is unnecessary to travel for meetings.
Both of the above, if supported by investment in Fibre-Optic network infrastructure mean more jobs in Rural areas which are in decline (Reducing the nbenefits bill), reduced carbon emissions through the reduction in travel, (Reducing overall energy imports) lower costs to employers (no London Weighting for example), better working conditions for employees (less travel time and expense) and reduced congestion in the Metropolis'.
Get rid of wasteful First Class carriages. They run empty or close to at all times. Replace them with Business carriages with free Wi-Fi & power points but much higher passenger density and at a much lower premium on the fares. Business travellers will work on the train if the journey time is long enough for it to be worthwhile (supposing of course that the journey is necessary, which in most cases it isn't) and the facilities are there. Actually it is likely that HS2 would LOWER productivity as people would be less likely to get a laptop out to work on for only 40 minutes.
Give grants to firms to De-Centralise and reduce the need for transport links.
We all spend too long travelling to work, or else we are unable to find work because it takes too long to get there or is too expensive.
Let us invest £32 Billion in dealing with the cause and not the symptom.