HS2 High Speed Rail

[555-04Q2]

Why just the north? The line you mention, from Norwich in to London, is crying out for more money. It suffers so many serious infrastructure problems.

No; I'm talking about transport infrastructure NOT involving London. Why does all the investment have to go into getting people into and out of London?

Maybe because it is your financial and tourism hub amongst other things?

[BDunnell]

No; I'm talking about transport infrastructure NOT involving London. Why does all the investment have to go into getting people into and out of London?

Because they are undeniably important routes, transporting the largest numbers of people. Like it or not, that's reality — as is the fact that more capacity and better infrastructure are urgent requirements on many of them. And you forget in your anti-London bias that these routes don't just transport people to and from London, but between intermediate points on the routes in question too.

[henners88]

Why just the north? The line you mention, from Norwich in to London, is crying out for more money. It suffers so many serious infrastructure problems.

No; I'm talking about transport infrastructure NOT involving London. Why does all the investment have to go into getting people into and out of London?

Maybe because it is your financial and tourism hub amongst other things?

It is a major tourism hub yes but there are many other important sites around the country other than grotty London. Unfortunately so many rail routes suffer because of this obsession to spend all the money supplying routes to London. I can't use rail any more because I'd probably lose my job as its so unreliable. Birmingham is the biggest city in the UK and is in the centre, yet doesn't seem to have anywhere near as much effort in supporting. I hate the mentality in our country sometimes and its no wonder you hear 'Britain is a Country surrounded by the M25' so often!

[555-04Q2]

It is a major tourism hub yes but there are many other important sites around the country other than grotty London. Unfortunately so many rail routes suffer because of this obsession to spend all the money supplying routes to London. I can't use rail any more because I'd probably lose my job as its so unreliable. Birmingham is the biggest city in the UK and is in the centre, yet doesn't seem to have anywhere near as much effort in supporting. I hate the mentality in our country sometimes and its no wonder you hear 'Britain is a Country surrounded by the M25' so often!

You kidding! Birmingham! Bloody hell

[Dave B]

I can only base my opinion on living a few minutes walk from a station served by HS1, which we were assured would increase capacity and bring prices down on the commuter routes. In fact what's happened is we've lost 2 trains per hour to accommodate the high speed trains, which cost a lot more, and prices on the "slow" trains have gone up well in excess of inflation.

[kapparomeo]

From what I've heard from train enthusiasts, the main role of HS2 isn't so much to decrease overall journey time - as it is, it takes you a little over an hour to get the London from Birmingham anyway, it's hardly trekking the Sahara - but more to increase capacity by letting more trains run on an overcrowded line.

I don't really use the train enough myself for it to personally affect me, but I won't deny that the costs on paper are eye-watering.

[Starter]

Is the high speed service run by First or someone else?

[Mark]

Is the high speed service run by First or someone else?

The contract hasn't been awarded and won't be for a long long time yet - probably 10 years or so.

It's far from certain the line will even be built.

[Starter]

Is the high speed service run by First or someone else?

The contract hasn't been awarded and won't be for a long long time yet - probably 10 years or so.

It's far from certain the line will even be built.

Thanks. I was just curious. A company I had worked for over here was acquired by First while I was still there.

[emporer_k]

That money would be better spent improving the east-west rail links rather than the north-south routes. Also there should be more emphasis on local transport infrastructure outside of London.

It amazes me though why HS2 is not going to connect to the Eurotunnel, or even use the same London terminal as the Eurostar.