HS2 – Is it really good news ?

Back in July at an earlier point in the government’s consultation on a high speed line between London and the north, I flagged concerns that whilst the sentiment behind investment in rail is right, is this the right scheme and if approved what would it mean for any other elements of local rail or for that matter any other form of investment in local transport links.

Today the government has annouced that the plans for the (at least) £33 billion pound first stage of the route between London and Birmingham are set for approval with a consultation for the second stage of the route toward Manchester due in 2014. But with today’s announcement including the news that in several places that line will now go through more tunnels, the cost is expected to be even higher.

Now with this scheme, and the £15 billion pound cross rail scheme already having approval, the realistic odds of much funding remaining to be able to secure many of the much needed local rail improvements to enable people to be able to get to Manchester let alone access any high speed links must be low, and whilst many are flagging this decision as been right, surely it would be of far better benefit to this part of the country if schemes like the northern hub were fully funded now and greater / proper consideration was given to schemes such as the ‘Gamesley’ station, meaning that whilst you might not be able to get to London any quicker, at least in the next few years some real tangible improvements to local rail services might happen, rather than a grand plan which may or may not in 20 years time knock half an hour or more off a trip to London.