Evidence F- Campaign for Better Transport warns Government over high speed rail

Evidence F- Campaign for Better Transport warns Government over high speed rail
Campaign for Better Transport (CfBT) is urging the Government not to neglect the rest ofthe rail network and other public transport in favour of HS2.It warns that if the new line only serves parkway stations, rather than city centres, it risks becoming a strategy that will add to congestion and encourage car use.CfBT’s Director, said: “High-speed rail offers an opportunity to improve UK transport andprovide greener long-distance travel. The danger is the Government is so focused ongetting plans through against local opposition that it ignores the need for improving thewhole network”.“We’re worried ministers will cut budgets elsewhere to pay for high-speed rail. That couldmean steeper fare rises and cuts in local services. The best way for rail to offer a greeneralternative is to electrify more, but plans could be put back as high-speed rail eats up allthe funding. New jobs created will mainly be in London and the Heathrow link will onlyincrease air travel.”CfBT cautioned that proposed fare increases should be reviewed as a matter of urgencyto keep fares on existing lines affordable for the majority of passengers.The independant- This will not benefit the north Go HS2 High Speed Rail
CostHS2 Ltd estimate that the Y Network, providing two corridors north of Birmingham (one direct to Manchester and the other to Leeds via East Midlands and South Yorkshire) will cost in the region of £34bn.The first section from London to Birmingham is expected to cost £17bn. This stage is slightly more expensive due to tunnelling requirements out of London and through parts of the Chilterns.Research work has considered a variety of funding methods. However, reviews of funding for high speed rail elsewhere in the world indicates that substantial public sector support will be required.
It is anticipated that fare revenues should cover operational costs through government train franchising. Major capital funding is not anticipated until 2017/18 and is likely to be spread over 6-10 years.The annual expenditure required will be at the same level already being spent on Crossrail.________________________________________________________________________Row over funding to fight HS2 planCoventry Telegraph 15 September 2011A ROW has developed over thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money pledged to fight the HS2 train line set to cut through Warwickshire.Councils have ploughed money into a £1,175,000 fighting fund as an alliance of local authorities along the route seek to challenge the government’s case for the 250mph London-to-Birmingham line.Tory MP Graham Evans has complained to the Audit Commission after Warwick District Council put forward £100,000 – despite making £300,000 of cuts this year.The fighting fund is run by 51m; an alliance of eighteen local authorities fighting the £34 billion plan, and was joined by Coventry City Council last week.Warwickshire County Council is known to have pledged £50,000, with consultants fees and legal advice already swallowing up £40,000 of that in their fight against HS2.North Warwickshire Borough Council and Stratford District Council are also part of the 51m group but have not pledged money.MP Graham Evans says the pledge of money by the two councils is illegal as it breaks rules which ban the running of campaigns using taxpayers’ money to influence the view of the public on a matter of policy.But campaigners and councillors have hit back. Councillor Michael Doody, leader of Warwick District Council, said: “The HS2 funding was met from the council’s reserves and contingency budget.“The HS2 funding is a one-off cost which the council was able to contain within the specific funding, whilst the savings required to be found are recurring.

We are used to the spiralling cost of rail journeys, but £1000 for a trip from London to Manchester might be stretching it a little. That's the contribution every household in Britain must make towards the construction of a new high-speed rail line (HS2) linking the capital and some of our great regional cities (Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, to be precise).

In 20 years' time, you'll be able to leave Euston and, by the time it takes to queue for an all-day breakfast roll and a coffee at the buffet bar and then get back to your seat, you'll be pulling into Manchester Piccadilly and hearing the announcement reminding you to take all your belongings with you.

I don't know where I'll be in the year 2032, but I hope I'll be around to take advantage of a one hour, eight minute journey time between London and Manchester. More than that, I hope I'll be around to appreciate not having to stand up all the way there. Because, as someone who uses the West Coast line from time to time, my problem with it is less to do with speed, more about capacity. The present service - run by Virgin, given a stay of execution after the absurd auction of last year - is regular and quick, but is very often overcrowded to the point of extreme discomfort. The fact that the train arriving in two decades' time promises to be swift and spacious is little consolation.

I am also not sure I agree with the Government's assertion that HS2 will usher a new age of prosperity for the regions, and make our economy less weighted towards London.