PETER HITCHENS: I love railways and (aged 12) cried tears of rage and sorrow when Dr Beeching ripped them up. But even I can see that HS2 is madness

This is often the case. The argument against HS2 is either the money should be spent on the existing network or spent on rebuilding the lines lost from the Beeching cuts. And how much is that going to cost exactly? If 100 Billion is redistributed across the entire network each area of funding will only receive enough for short term scale planning projects and if it was spent on rebuilding old lines the money would very soon be absorbed in procurement of land. So you can't have one without the other. To reinstate the old lines you also need a investment on the existing network so how many billions is this going to cost with the added dilemma of is it actually going to be a long term enough project before the new lines and upgrades need another huge investment? Just look at the West Coast Mainline, after spending billions on upgrades they forecast the line would be back to full capacity within 10 years. HS2 is the only real answer to how to fix a very crippled and disjointed transport system that has continually been stabbed in the back and let down by successive governments.

Trump a monster? Bit harsh, Peter. A crass, ignorant, loud mouthed vulgarian, maybe, but a monster? You grew up in the old kingdom of Wessex, did you not? I'm sure images and memories of King Alfred would have informed your childhood. We think of him as a great and gentle Christian ruler who laid the foundations of England, but to secure his throne I'll bet the farm he'll have done some pretty savage things. Considering who he was fighting, he'd have had to. Was he a monster? He only became Alfred the Great AFTER the event. Great men are rarely good men.

I agree that they should not have dismantled the railways and wonder how on earth the Government of the day could have been so stupid and had so little foresight, however, many routes could not possibly be reinstated as they have been built on!

I have to disagree to some extent. HS2 may be of some benefit but what would be vastly more beneficial would be the upgrading and straightening of some of the other rail lines. Take for example the Grand Central route from Bradford to London. This connects some very important northern cities and towns to the capital. For over an hour you’re literally crawling through Yorkshire until you join a better line after Doncaster and you feel the train accelerate. Couple of hours later you’re in London. It’s frankly embarrassing and this is where the investment is urgently needed

The British people are never told the whole story. For since HS2 was announced to the people of the UK we have heard all the positives from those who want it and probably have some vested interest as always. In this respect also, we have never heard the other side of the story that other nations have experienced with their High Speed railways and the reason appears to be that none have been successful in economic, user, capacity and sustainability in the short, medium and long terms. For most if you undertake your own research have had to be subsidized in perpetuity by their governments and therefore the taxpayer. Therefore read for your own good the real story behind HS2 that is basically designed to fail. As HS2 based upon the experience of other nations (including China now) over a period of over 50 years, will become a continual burden on the British taxpayer forever. Are therefore our politicians and ministers so mad to undertake HS2 it has to be asked, but where it appears that successive governments and the present government may very well sanction the scheme that appears to need a bottomless pit of funding without end? For in reality there are far better ways to invest all this borrowed money and where these schemes (To provide in perpetuity a continual dynamic and growing UK economy and where these are, The Western Water Highway and the Open Research Establishment for the continual creation of new technological industries of the future – Both these mega- Projects built in the North of England, but where all the UK would prosper through them) that are sustainable and basically what the country really needs for its economic future, not a railway line that does very little other than will need continually taxpayer funding without end once built, based upon the long-term experience of HS rail in all other nations.

HS2 – Another Fine "Mess" that our Politicians have got the British Taxpayer into - The truth about High-Speed Rail and what our Politicians are not telling the British People - https://worldinnovationfoundation.blogspot.com/2019/06/hs2-another-fine-...

Athanasius, are you comparing Trump to Alfred the Great? I know Trump himself says he is the greatest President since Lincoln, do you really believe history will view him as such? As for Mr Hitchens use of the term “monster”, he also describes Tony Blair as a “creature”, maybe you think that makes him a great leader as well!

Closing the lines in the 1960s was perhaps understandable but selling off the land the lines ran on was totally unforgiveable.
As Peter knows the roads to the satellite towns around Oxford are gridlocked every morning and night. In the 1960s Oxford was connected to Witney, Thame and Abingdon by rail and if the land hadn't been sold and built on a light railway serving these towns would have been a possibilty.

"Our country is too small to benefit from the high-speed lines that work well only in the huge empty spaces of France and Spain."

I totally agree with this. HS2 is a complete waste of time and money at a time when local services are an absolute disgrace. Why at a time when Northern Rail cannot even get you to work on time do we think that this vanity project is what's required? It's a classic case of trying to run before you can walk. I imagine it was dreamed up by one of the fancy Dan's you've mentioned, out of a complete lack of understanding for what is needed and also their desire to create some big project where many of their management chums can earn bug bonuses and pat themselves on the back. As with many of the road and rail projects, they are overseen by some London centric yuppy more interested in telling us about the great end result and look of the new landscape without any realisation of the outcome. They always overrun and end up costing billions more than first proposed with half the alleged quality. In the case of HS2, a high speed line between London and Birmingham and then a vague hope that some of the benefits may trickle down to the North. Another huge waste of money which could have gone on vital investment in the pathetic local services we have to suffer, especially in the North, and replacement of the shambolic private companies currently running this farce.