High speed train set

[John Pruden]

its voting day in the house of brains today to waste billions of pounds what would be your vote and why?just a bit of fun.jp

[j.sabourn]

I think I would vote for a rise in wages for myself so as to keep myself well clear of the commoners, and to enable me to maintain the standard of luxury to which I am accustomed. Also to change the title of Honourable to Very Honourable. As this applies to all members of the House I see no possibilities of it not passing. John Sabourn

[alf corbyn]

while i can see the logic in having a high speed train to connect all the major cities, to have one to birmingham to save ten or fifteen minutes is stupid. why not go the whole way and have a line that goes right up the middle of the country with branches to all the major cities and run by one train company. i would suggest nationalising it but our government couldn't organise a p*ss up in a brewery.

[j.sabourn]

Alf the correct term is couldn't organise their ###e in a Brothel. Must keep it in the bounds of seamanship. Cheers John Sabourn

[John Arton]

As Alf said, spending billions just to cut 20 minutes off the travel time between London and Birmingham is stupid. Just what business is so important that you have to get there 20 minutes sooner. If its so important, use the phone or video conference. It never ceases to amaze me when travelling by plane or train, the number of business people who spend their time tippy tapping away at their laptop or jabbering on the phone. If they have to use travel time to keep up to speed with their job then they are either not very good at their job, or just plain lazy (I'm off now, will finish that job tomorrow...the 1700 hundred syndrome).
Now as for a new rail link, why bother with a passenger link, lets build/improve our freight links, that would certainly help business far more than 20 minutes of journey time for the suits, most of whom are civil servants or union people attending those very important caonferences....as if.
rgds
JA

[cappy]

As Alf said, spending billions just to cut 20 minutes off the travel time between London and Birmingham is stupid.

set off 20 minutes earlier

[vic mcclymont]

It wouldn't be so bad if it was state of the art-------a mono rail, instead of ancient technology.

[robpage]

There has been such a lack of investment in the country's infrastructure it is painful , the PFI system cost millions straight into developers pockets , we need to spend money of the pipes ,.cables . roads and rail that ties the whole place together , so I am in favour , as long as there is no PFI , we will be paying for the Blair/Brown PFIs for the whole of our lives

[John Arton]

Question
In all reports relating to HS2 it talks about linking London with the North of England yet the line will end at Birmingham.
Last time I looked at a map of England Birmingham was in the MIDLANDS, so how come a line from London to Birmingham will link London to the North of the country, unless you believe that the North begins 100 metres in from the White Cliffs of Dover.
rgds
JA

[robpage]

http://www.hs2.org.uk/phase-two

Birmingham first then Manchester and Leeds