Re: GOVERNMENT FAVOURS DOMESTIC AIRLINES OVER RAIL FOR ANGLO/SCOTTISH PASSENGERS

"J. Chisholm" <jc235@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

allan tracy wrote:
I would support 'reserving' Great Central trackbed for a route to
midlands/north, but I think no one could justify the vast cost of a very
high speed line in the UK where so few trips are over 300 miles (unlike
within Europe)


What's with the word justify?


Profit could build a high speed line pure and simple. There's no
shortage of private companies out there that would build it so let
them go ahead and there's lots of lovely money to be made - no
brainer.

Absolute rubbish. No private firm would do this at their own risk,
they'd want tons of Government Money and lots of get out clauses, just
like with toll roads.


Exactly right. Just as with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (now High
Speed 1) the sums do not add up, and by quite a long way. Therefore
there will need to be a hefty subsidy and Government guarantees,
otherwise the banks simply won't lend the money.

The time is not yet right for High Speed 2. As long as there are ways
of eking out more capacity within the existing infrastructure, with
small enhancements, that is the way to go. Once it becomes apparent
that growth is steadily moving towards outstripping the ultimate
capacity of the existing infrastructure, that is the time to invest in
additional routes.

Wisely, the DfT has kept its options open in the White Paper, and
300km/h is neither ruled in nor out at this stage. Whether a new
route is chosen, or track relaid over the existing Great Central
route, will depend on a rigorous economic and environmental analysis
of the options.

The proponents of High Speed 2 have not gained the support of DfT.
Conventional (up to 140 mph) trains on the ex-GC route may well be a
much more viable alternative than an LGV. On environmental grounds
alone, 300km/h may be very difficult to sell.

.

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