Discuss - Transport HS2 High Speed Rail - Scrap the HS2 (High Speed Rail) scheme

Should the proposed HS2 (High Speed Rail) scheme linking the North and South, be scrapped?

Green Party HS2 (High Speed 2) rail network would be scrapped. HS2 does too much damage to local communities and to the environment, and is too pricey. To achieve high speeds the trains are expected to use up to 50% more fuel than Eurostar so carbon emissions will not be reduced. The enormous sums involved could be better spent improving transport for everybody, not just the wealthy business-people who will be able to afford to use HS2. Source: Green Party website.

Labour "Labour is backing this new line which will cut congestion on the railways, better connect our major cities and help deliver a one-nation economic recovery. HS2 will improve connections between the North and South and between northern cities. The latest high-speed rail technology will cut journey times between Britain's cities and support jobs and growth in the Midlands and North. HS2 can be a key element in Ed Miliband's Agenda 2030 plan to create an economic recovery that reaches every nation, region and sector." Mary Creagh, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development.

Liberal Democrat Liberal Democrats would continue High Speed Rail (HS2) as 'the first stage of a high-speed rail network to Scotland', and Crossrail 2, electrify main lines and re-open local stations to enable more people to travel by train. Source: Liberal Democrat pre-2015 Manifesto

Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru has said that they "will continue to campaign on the issue of 'Barnettising' HS2 and in favour of spreading rail investment across the state".

SNP we need the HS2 project extended north of the border Gordon MacDonald, member of the Scottish Parliament’s Infrastructure and Investment Committee 2013

UKIP Commenting on the HS2 scheme, UKIP have said, "The human cost of Mr Cameron’s absurd white elephant scheme can be measured in terms of unsaleable homes, blighted businesses and communities, devastated farms, retirement plans turned upside down, ill health and worse." Source: http://www.ukip.org/get_set_for_another_round_of_tory_betrayal_over_hs2

Comment on this topic