Over the past few weeks there has been much talk of the new high speed rail link, HS2, from London to cities in the north.
As with many things in life there are differing views.
The for camp say it is essential and will give birth to an animal almost as mythical as the unicorn “the northern power house”.
The opposition say that if this vast amount of money is spent joining cities, towns and coastal areas in an integrated network to allow people to move about easily it will have a far greater economic effect.
A similar question faced the air transport industry in the mid 60s, high speed transport for the wealthy few or mass transport for the ordinary people.
Two routes were taken that resulted in two outstanding aircraft the Concorde and the 747 Jumbo. One of these aircraft has been on the scrap heap for the past 19 years and only exists as museum exhibits, the other still carries thousands of people thousands of miles every year and next year celebrates 50 years of service.
Another thought arises, HS1 the line from London to the Channel Tunnel, cost the British tax payer in the region of £8b, it has been sold to a Canadian teachers’ pension fund for £2b, if HS2 is built who will be the final beneficiary of the British tax payers’ money?
Peter Barnes
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