The Prime Minister’s proposals for Euston provide the key: a new partnership with business to draw up a new, viable plan for a 21st-century railway between Birmingham and Manchester.
“HS2 is in the process of being built, it is transformational… the Prime Minister is absolutely committed to levelling up, and this is part of that levelling up.”
Despite dire predictions, travellers are returning in droves. Hunt should not overlook this vital sector in his Spring Budget.
Rename the whole project to reflect its truly unifying nature and let more of Britain, Scotland and Northern England be connected by the “steel threads”.
The choice facing voters on May 6 is simple: do we accelerate the progress of the last four years, or do we go back to the old failing approach?
We cannot waste the opportunity that our Government’s high-speed rail investment plans presents.
The era of government-run railway infrastructure has been, for the most part, one of decline and a clear lack of ambition.
Building the northern sections first could provide a springboard for further projects and combat the idea that the former Mayor of London is too capital-focused.
The results of a ComRes poll released today should make sobering reading for HS2’s political cheerleaders.
Cities as diverse as Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol and Reading should gain from the project – as should the Chilterns.
It takes longer to get from London to Portsmouth than it does to get to Doncaster, a distance that is over twice as far. Something must be done about that.
And does it really have to come into Euston at all?
As the autumn statement looms, the Chancellor borrows a leaf from ConservativeHome’s book about the affordability of Britain’s public spending.
Cut green taxes? Scrap HS2? Have your say today.
The UK’s cheapest project is only barely cheaper than France’s most expensive; on average, Brits pay two and a half times more (on a per mile basis) than their French counterparts to build the same length of track.