Institution responds to Government approval of new HS2 routes

Dr Colin Brown says a wider integrated transport strategy is still lacking despite the announcement

Dr Colin Brown, Director of Engineering at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said in response to the Government approval of new HS2 routes:

“This announcement is good news for the sector, especially as we seek to improve transport links in Northern England. Commitment to HS2 provides the UK’s engineering industry with the much-needed confidence to invest in future skills and will help the UK become a world leader in the development and delivery of railway technology.

“What is still lacking is a wider integrated transport strategy. At the moment major infrastructure projects look as if they are being developed in isolation, when a more integrated approach would be cheaper, more efficient and better serve passengers and businesses.  We seem to be ignoring the benefit that an extended HS2 brings to other key infrastructure projects like Crossrail and the proposed expanded airport at Heathrow.”