Engineering news
The government's decision to give the green light to the HS2 high-speed rail project was largely welcomed by business leaders - but the route was condemned by other groups as a "white elephant" which will drain the public purse.
John Longworth, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said businesses up and down the country would welcome the decision, but cautioned that the project must be seen as one part of a comprehensive package of infrastructure improvements to underpin economic growth.
“HS2 is about increasing rail capacity in Britain, not just about speed,” he said.
“Without HS2, which would treble capacity, overcrowding will get worse, fares will rise and delays will become even more common.
“Britain cannot continue to 'make do and mend' when it comes to its sub-standard infrastructure. Fundamentally, our global competitiveness is at stake.”
He went on: “However, the battle for HS2 is not yet won. Ministers must legislate swiftly, and within this Parliament, to demonstrate their rock-solid commitment to delivering a national high-speed rail network. Further delays, for any reason, are not an option.”
Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, also welcomed the news, describing it as a vote of confidence in the railways and recognition of the vital role the industry had to play in supporting jobs and driving sustainable economic growth.
Roberts added: “HS2 would help to alleviate the capacity crunch on many of our major rail corridors and offer the prospect of shorter journey times between London and other major English cities.
“It would also allow for faster and more frequent local services in areas between London and Birmingham, as space is freed up on existing lines.
“By deploying the best of British design and engineering in the construction of the high-speed line in Kent (HS1), we struck the right balance between national and local interest. We can do the same again with HS2.”
But groups which have campaigned against the line joined the TaxPayers' Alliance in condemning the plans as an ineffective use of billions of pounds of public money.
Jerry Marshall, chairman of Agahst (Action Groups Against High Speed Two), said: “Justine Greening has said that she would make a rational decision on HS2 and she clearly has not. If she had taken a cold, hard look at HS2, she would see that it is a disaster waiting to happen.
“HS2 will cost every household in Britain £1,700 and, based on government figures, will never pay for itself.
“The construction will wreak untold environmental damage and exacerbate rather than close the North-South divide.
“The technology required to run it safely does not yet exist, and high-speed train operators doubt the feasibility of the projected number of trains per hour.”
He went on: “The government's promise to ameliorate environmental damage by providing additional tunnelling is empty as they have already said that the extra cost will have to come from the existing budget. This will just lead to under-funding elsewhere on the line.
“It is ludicrous that the government is still going ahead with a plan that, in the current economic climate, could see four jobs lost for every one created.
“It's too late in the day to prevent £800 million being spent on consultants in this Parliament alone, but we will continue to oppose this scheme using all the means at our disposal. HS2 should not happen and will not happen.”
