The government has unveiled its plans for a £30 billion high-speed rail network, with the first phase between London and Birmingham opening in 2026. Should this project be a higher priority than that timescale suggests? Or should such a large investment be shelved in these financially austere times?
What was the point in announcing this aspiration, as no funding mechanism is proposed and in practice the plan has no fixed timescales as it would not be started until Crossrail has been completed; the route is environmentally problematic and economically terminating in the wrong place.
Greg Davidson, Leigh
Improving transport links? Yes, great idea. £30 billion? Pricey. Boost to economy if we get the link built? Could be huge – all those workers paying taxes. High enough priority? Not really. Too expensive? It’s cheaper than a war and much better for the country.
Gareth Lewis, Nailsea, Bristol
Some of the greatest engineering projects ever were undertaken during the Great Depression. Why should this be any different?
Duncan Saunders, Chellaston, Derby
Shocking! £30 billion isn't enough considering how far behind the UK infrastructure is compared to Western Europe. Linking two cities is mediocre and unambitious. 2026 is too far away. The economy needs a boost now, not by bailing out banks but by generating work for the population.
Sarah Beesley, Southampton
Importing trains, technology and workers to get people between London and Birmingham one hour quicker is not worth £30 billion. However, significant technology and manufacturing advances that create additional jobs and increase exports could justify the cost.
David MacLean, Mons, Belgium
How about making sure that there is enough capacity for everyone who travels at peak times to get a seat, or perhaps putting back to full dual track the sections of line that were made single track in the Beeching era?
Graham Harker, Worcester
Isn't it about time we bit 'the bullet' on this one.
Graham Sorbie, Kinross
Why do we need to be spending a further £30 billion on another rail link when we already have a system in place (Vigin Pendoleno) that will get you from the North West to London in around 2hrs?
Giles Oldknow, Warrington, Cheshire
I believe that there should be a large push for improvement in public transport to reduce road congestion and greenhouse emissions. However, in such a small country, I think the focus should be on reliability and not speed.
Thomas Gilbert, Peterborough
Committing to a large investment in a financially difficult time does not mean immediate spending. If not now, when? While the timing appears overly long, experience shows that such a project will take this time, with agreeing the route taking the greater proportion.
Helen Brewer, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
I think this project is more about kudos for the ministers and companies involved than the needs of most travellers or commuters.
Kate Taylor, Liphook, Hampshire
It’s refreshing to see some forward thinking as opposed to knee-jerking from crisis to crisis. If there is a SOUND business case for the project then it should go ahead.
Gary Lock, Leatherhead, Surrey
It is far better to stimulate the economy by investment in large infrastructure projects than to give cheap money to rich bankers.
David Hanson, Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire
The project should proceed to secure the 'employment' of UK based engineers in the supply chain, including the steel industry, civil and mechanical contractors, signalling and rolling stock suppliers and be conditional upon no less than 80% of contract value being awarded to UK companies!
Herman Ruijsenaars, Saxilby, Lincoln
My question would be, ‘Why would you want to get to Birmingham quickly?’ This is just another waste of public money by the loonies in charge.
Graham Hoult, Horsham, West Sussex
It must be possible to manage the preliminary design and de-risking activities within a financially appropriate budget until we move into less financially austere times. What mustn't happen is that today's problems put off even starting a long term programme at all, otherwise 2026 will look more like 2030, or 2040, or 2050, by which time we'll need boats.
Duncan Auterson, Derby
High speed rail is a must to avoid future carbon emissions from air travel. Big investment needs to think beyond short term financial crises. The timescales should be set by the most cost effective project delivery.
Tim Naylor, Whitehaven, Cumbria
My view is that if we were to increase the reliability of the current system it would add more value. The reduction of journey time by an hour will not make a big difference in the greater scheme but guaranteeing to get there when promised would make a difference.
Donald Taylor, Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire
15 years to implement seem a lengthy time, considering the technology exists. The project is long overdue and lacks in ambition. There should be a High-speed rail to link all the major cities.
Grant Featherstone, Portsmouth
The commercial benefits of upgrading our existing rail network makes this venture worth every pound and should be giving a higher priority with the completion date brought forward to 2020.
Eddy Akang, Gloucester
Over the next decade, funding should be targeted to ensure that all passengers and commuters enjoy services that are increasingly reliable, frequent, punctual, comfortable and not over-crowded. Much of the existing network still requires electrification (or conversion to overhead), and this would probably get my vote. Graham Lawrence, Redbourn, Herts
I believe a high speed link between the first and second capital cities in England is long overdue and the project should be given the highest priority possible, this project is one of several needed in the UK simply to keep up with the rest of Europe.
Eddie Wiglusz, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
This project should not be higher priority than this timescale and should indeed be shelved. How about a clear approach to the looming energy crisis, support to establish a British manufacturing sector to drag Britain out of the recession and beyond where we can indeed become a world player again?
Gary Lowndes, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
We need to make Rail a viable alternative to air and road transport. A 2026 opening date is too late - An earlier start date shows commitment to investment in a sustainable future for UK Transport.
Hiten Vaidya, Rugby
Given the level of government debt, I consider it to be irresponsible to invest such sums in a high speed network. If monies were available to improve the transport system, it would be better spend improving the current rail network.
George Wong, Stockport
Higher priority should be given. For a major project like this the government should help struggling major UK based plants like Corus produce material. It would bring people into work, money into their pockets and drive the economy leaving a legacy of better infrastructure and services and so an upward spiral.
Graham Russell, Consett
It should be higher priority, but appears a typical political announcement, taking credit for something that the current government won't have to deliver. Money is tight, but this is the sort of infrastructure project to maintain UK skills and jobs - if we don't start building it we never will.
Alex Green, Warrington