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Original poster

To think we are one of the only countries in Europe without a high speed rail link..........

84 replies

Ilovemyself · 18/08/2013 19:22

....... and that the Nimbys should shut up. It will create vast employment and will bring us in line with the rest of Europe's rail network.

After all, everyone complained about the M1 or HS1 and they are now classed as vital infrastructure!

OP posts:
specialsubject · 18/08/2013 19:39

times have changed a little, and I don't think HS1 is vital. HS2 will cut 10 mins off what is already a really fast journey, destroy lots of countryside space that we don't have, be unaffordable for most and won't be ready for anyone now commuting before even they retire.

better to spend the money upgrading existing lines, reopening old ones, encouraging freight on to them and off the roads and keeping fares affordable.

Europe is not actually one homogenous country.

TobyLerone · 18/08/2013 19:43

HS1 has more than halved the times of some rail journeys, so I'm with you, OP. We (DH and I) benefit from HS1, although we do pay through the nose for it.

HS2 will cut the journey time from where by 10 minutes?

FakaP · 18/08/2013 19:54

HS2 will not just cut journey time from one city to another. Quicker journys from Manchester to London is almost a by-product of the scheme.

The idea is to open up vast areas of the country to be in reach of the major centres of commerce, and spread the wealth from the south east to other areas of the country.

That's the idea anyway.

landrover · 18/08/2013 19:58

I think that in 20 years, nobody will be travelling much by train anywhere, we will all be skyping and using other means of communication, remember 20 years ago, the mobile phone was just staring to become available, look where we are now!!!! no need to travel long distances for meetings etc!

Original poster
Ilovemyself · 18/08/2013 20:04

Europe may not be one homogenous country, but think of how you can now travel to Paris or Brussels, or one of a number of European cities in comfort and at speed. And it is down to a good high speed network.

Imagine being able to travel from Manchester to Paris in just under 4 hours. It has both business and personal attractions.

The trouble is people are far to worries about their house price to worry about what could bring jobs with its construction and operation, and could link us with the rest of Europe much more easily than we currently can

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovemyself · 18/08/2013 20:05

Yes land rover, just like it was going to cut air travel, which is actually increasing!

OP posts:
comingalongnicely · 18/08/2013 20:08

I'd rather the cash was spent on upgrading the road network TBH - that'd be of more benefit to the majority of people.

Doesn't matter anyway, they'll do what they want & luckily I won't have to worry about re-mortgaging my house for a ticket as I'll be retired by then!!

landrover · 18/08/2013 20:17

As coming along says, we will be retired and wont care by then anyway x

creamteas · 18/08/2013 20:19

Imagine being able to travel from Manchester to Paris in just under 4 hours

Except HS1 and HS2 do not seem to join up, so this will not be possible

I'm a supporter of high-speed time, but the current plans for HS2 don't make a lot of sense. The line from Birmingham to London already has a fast service, and the new station in Birmingham will not link by rail to any other station.

And taking the line into Euston (rather than St Pancras to link to HS1) is just plain silly.

specialsubject · 18/08/2013 20:23

BTW the cost of this is spiralling almost as much as that of the Olympics. And how many people regularly want to go from Manchester to Paris?

I don't live anywhere near the route of the line and have no personal axe to grind. All for good rail links. This isn't one, it is Cameron's train set.

crazyspaniel · 18/08/2013 20:28

You can't compare the UK to Europe - rail travel is so unaffordable here that the last thing that we need is for taxpayers to subsidise a premium service that only those with expense accounts will be able to afford to use. £80 billion is hardly a drop in the ocean in the current climate.

Original poster
Ilovemyself · 18/08/2013 20:31

Cameron's train set lol. Don't forget who started the idea if you want to play the politics game.

OP posts:
TobyLerone · 18/08/2013 20:42

It is a bit silly to take it into Euston, but you can walk to St Pancras from Euston in about 5 minutes, or it's one tube stop, so not as much of a PITA as, say, Paddington.

yunito · 18/08/2013 20:46

I think the economic argument for HS2 is dubious at best tbh.

makemineabacardi · 18/08/2013 20:50

Living in the South west of England, it'd be nice just to have a train system that matched the rest of the country! Trains are diabolical here but we arent set to benefit from HS2.

krazipan · 18/08/2013 20:51

Would you feel differently if it was outside the back of your house and it was affecting your house prices?

Original poster
Ilovemyself · 18/08/2013 20:58

Makeminabacardi. I agree. But I also think a high speed network should include the south west, Wales and Scotland.

Krazipan. I live close enough to be affected but not close enough to benefit from any compensation. And many of my family and friends are even closer.

OP posts:
krazipan · 18/08/2013 21:02

Ilovemyself hs2 will be only hundreds of yards from my house and will destroy the view. I have to be honest if it wasn't going to affect me then I wouldn't be bothered about it but to be potentially losing thousands of the value of my house because of it does cause me worry and I don't want right out the back of my house Hmm

Bearbehind · 18/08/2013 21:05

ilovemyself, you really do live up to your user name every time don't you?

I am jolly interested to hear your case for a project based on unacheivable passenger numbers and one which the country can ill afford- or is ths just an attempt to stir up trouble by calling people NIMBY's?

cjel · 18/08/2013 21:13

I don't like travelling fast so I think its a waste of money.

Original poster
Ilovemyself · 18/08/2013 21:17

Bearbehind. The Nimbys in the Home Counties are always getting in the way of progress.

Funding for a by pass in the town I grew up in was granted and would have given excellent transport links that were sorely need by local business but the Nimbys got involved and the whole plan got dropped.

Affordable housing is blocked in the area I live because Nimbys don't want extra housing in this area.

Statements from local councils saying they don't want progress. They want to stay is sleepy little towns.

This country could support a high speed network not just as planned, but also including the south west, Wales, and Scotland. Once again the UK lags behind our neighbours by having only 1 high speed link, and that is direct to Europe.

I guess you live up to your name as well...........

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovemyself · 18/08/2013 21:25

By the way Bear Behind, how close to the proposed route do you live Hmm

OP posts:
Bearbehind · 18/08/2013 21:48

Not close enough for it to affect my house price if that's what you are driving at. I just don't think we need or can afford it.

bimbabirba · 18/08/2013 22:13

OP I applaud you. The railways in this country are a disgrace compared to the rest of Europe. Why this is I can't explain Confused

mercibucket · 18/08/2013 22:25

our trains are privatised, expensive, and rubbish. why spend tax money further subsidising them?

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