With HS2's future being decided next month, GB Railfreight's MD, John Smith, has urged the Government and rail industry to focus on the benefits and deliver the project.
It has taken ten years of design and development, Parliamentary scrutiny, and public consultation to where HS2 is today.
HS2 will be the first new railway constructed north of London for over a 100 years, creating more capacity and connections across the North. For GBRf there is no other viable alternative to the project.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
What did the officials say?
Commenting on the National Audit Office's progress update, published yesterday, John Smith said:
“Cancelling HS2 would result in the loss of jobs, investment and faith in the deliverability of large-scale infrastructure projects.
“Regional connectivity needs to be fully supported and it is especially important for the rail freight sector, as it helps unlock routes and opportunities for businesses to choose rail over road freight.”
“If the Government takes the decision to pull the plug on HS2 now it will have a considerable negative impact on UK construction firms; the construction industry; young people starting their careers in construction and on the railways; and for rail freight which provides sustainable transport logistics.”
“Many young people have made education and career choices around work starting on the scheme soon, opting to studying at the National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure in Doncaster and Birmingham in the expectation of doing their bit to deliver the UK's most ambitious infrastructure project for a generation.
“While some critics are pushing for investment to be diverted to local commuter routes, without HS2 there won't be the additional employment opportunities and business investment.
“Delivering HS2 will, in the long term, support the UK's regional cities and towns to prosper and connect to other surrounding areas. The Government should move quickly to green light the project rather than delay even further.”
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Yes please, we need HS2…promoters keep selling it on the speed benefits, yet fail to emphasise the freeing-up of capacity on WCML for increased freight services and enhanced commuter/intermediate distance travellers beyond Watford to short of Birmingham. Little detail available to the public, but I think the present scheme has a lot of built-in extravagance which could be simplified without diluting the stated benefits. We need to get serious about shifting freight off our roads and reducing single-person car journeys of 150-250 miles.
As long as they too would pay for HS2.