For the cost of shaving 30 minutes off the London journey time to Birmingham we could give free school meals to all kids for a century.(?)

[MuddlingThrew]

What say ye?

I say do it.

I say to the Luddites we HAVE to do it.

Clearly there is far more to the project than going faster to Birmingham, as by the end of it, connectivity across the country will improve drastically.

What was the UK population when the Victorians built our (now) creaking rail system, as around 64 million people live and work in the UK now - and our population is thought to overtake Germany within 20-odd years to over 70 million.

Any infrastucture investment that both improves conditions for its users and promotes GDP growth for years to come, will help feed more future generations of children than an ever more crowded train system waiting to eat when a parent eventually gets home - especially if in a car jam, spitting our fumes.

Its a silly comparison. You could take money from anywhere in the pubic purse to pay for lunch for school children, if you chose to do so.

Its a nice emotional tag line isn't it - "feed the children"?

On the other hand, I don't think its unreasonable for parents to be responsible for feeding their offspring.

^ This

If you want a child/ren, then you pay for it/them.

BTW- they've done B'ham up lately. It might be nicer than most people assume. The buildings I mean. Accents still the same.

It's only going to benefit very few will make journies longer from those not on hs2. And I do believe will drag more business to that there London than the other way round.

High speed rail makes sense when you've long distances. I don't believe shaving a few minutes off for those traveling from Birmingham Manchester or Leeds will really benefit the country as a whole. Just a way to burn a shitload of money

Not suggesting we use it rob feed kids though. If you can't afford kids don't have them. And if you've not enough sense to be able to cook a good meal at home also shouldn't have kids.

gingerdad ... so you think businesses all points north of the Watford Gap will find it fixed costs cheaper to move down to London just because of a 'few minutes off a journey', rather than the other way around, why is that?

The same for London workers, who for quality of life, could move further out if the journey was easier.

If the country didn't need better/more capacity already, never mind as our population grew, I'd agree just building just for speed is highly debatable.

Political Partys say they want to 'invest' (mainly by borrowing) infrastructure, they don't want airport capacity which for some main hub airports has not changed in several decades, or now HS trains - and no doubt refuse to build homes on the greenbelt we really need - what do they want to 'invest in, more public sector workers/quangos to please the trade union bosses supporting them?

We could probably pay for school meals for all forever if we just stopped paying child benefits.

Same goes for Trident. What say you?

We seriously need to invest in our rail network, it's a joke. However, my concern over HS2 is that it will take resources, talent and business out of Birmingham into London, not the other way around.

Itsmebut.

I think there will be more of a skills drain south. Also think the money should be used to up date and increase the capacity on the existing network rather than one line which will sort little. You only need to look st this areas around hs1 those on it better commute. Everyone connecting in much worse.

I thought it was a 20 minute saving by the time the speed restrictions were taken into account. It's the biggest white elephant. Destroying villages, businesses, lakes, wildlife reserves, forests.
Beyond a joke, I cannot fathom why it's going ahead.