tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post9089620063300873443..comments2024-03-27T16:39:43.522+00:00Comments on Liberal England: HS2 will result in poorer train services for the East MidlandsJonathan Calderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00730157683743989696noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-19557335546263216872013-04-24T12:36:54.456+01:002013-04-24T12:36:54.456+01:00I don’t disagree with the general proposition of l...<br />I don’t disagree with the general proposition of localising decisions but in the case of a national railway network it doesn’t seem the key moment to argue this. Also, the downgrading of existing services is written in to the whole of the HS2 plan, not just in the Notts area. Fewer trains, and turning express services into stopping trains (longer journey times). Of course HS2Ltd/The Government spin this as an ‘improvement’. That is why places like Coventry have identified a ‘quad whammy’ from HS2 – down grade of their existing rail service; leeching of Coventry jobs to around the Birmingham stations; no money available for Coventry infrastructure investment needs; and impacted by the loss of jobs and value (businesses and environmental) from the HS2 land-take and 15 year blight on property. <br /><br />You will hear the Government/ HS2Ltd say that 'in any large infrastructure scheme there are always winners and losers'. So that's OK then??? Liberal voters up and down the line are fundamentally 'collateral damage'. Do you think this will lose Liberal votes or do you think this will lose Liberal votes? How about starting a real debate on HS2 – committed to the WHOLE truth on the business case; the environmental case; the social impact case; the economic case? HS2 has from the start been a solution trying to find a problem. Adonis started the whole project by saying we NEED high speed – so draw a straight line (400kph can’t take curves) London to Birmingham and start the justification from there. Each argument used to justify it has been decimated in turn – currently they are fronting the ‘capacity crisis’ one. But did you know that the London to Birmingham route is between 34th and 39th ORR (Office of the Rail Regulator) priority? The ‘capacity crisis’ is in commuting services and some regional services. It is not long distance! <br /><br />The sooner Liberals distance themselves from the appalling HS2 scheme, the better. Yes, let’s have massive investment in rail modernisation – but across the country and based on highest priorities first. That will deliver more capacity, more jobs, quicker, cheaper, and around all of the UK. More amenable to the devolved decision making that you emphasise? <br />Offahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01149472969373185375noreply@blogger.com