I don’t read a lot about HS2 because every time I read, watch or hear about it, it is usually something sickening such as the destruction of more of our beautiful countryside and buildings, or the astronomical costs that have risen since the first figure quoted.
What on earth is it all about? Eye-watering sums of billions of pounds for a hunk of metal to be able to whisk rich businessmen to and from London to Birmingham and Manchester by an extra 20 minutes?? Are we really meant to believe that the ordinary travelling public, by the time it is finished, will ever be able to afford a ticket to travel in such luxury?

I’ve also heard all the guff about the onward plans for Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, etc, What’s the betting by the time these plans are put into action, if ever, the error of their ways will have hit home and the cuts to all these grandoise plans will kick in. So once again as is the norm, the North will not benefit. I can also bet that by the time the second phase starts, HS2 will be almost obsolete.
My understanding is that it will travel at 250mph. For goodness sake, the fastest Japan has had for years is 360mph. So what’s all the fuss about this supposed state-of-the-art train?

It breaks my heart at the thought of our beautiful countryside and cherished buildings being deliberately destroyed just so rich backsides can sit on a plush seat to get to and from their destination station 20 minutes earlier than the masses, when the cost of train travel for ordinary passengers is so expensive, we are packed in like sardines and our station platforms are a disgrace.(many being too short for trains).

Why can’t that money be spent instead on fixing the nation’s whole rail infrastructure?
Why is it that only London, Birmingham and Manchester seem to count? The time for expensive toys for the boys should only be undertaken when our own travel in the North which bears the brunt of all that is wrong, but is forever last in line when investment and big money such as this, is available.

And they wonder why Northern passengers have legitimate gripes over HS2?

I don't see HS2 as a transport problem, or a planning problem.

I see it as a Money Laundering exercise.

Almost perfect way of quietly shifting public money to the Mob! (Where Mob might be planners, builders, whatever)

Unfortunately that seems to be true Ted! But l have just been looking
at a website called HSUK, or High speed uk! Which l found very
enlightening about this whole project! The main thing for me is
that it is still possible to reprogramne the whole mess and still come
out with a more comprehensive and more importantly cheaper
end result, l recommend anyone interested in what goes on in this
white elephant has a look at this alternative they propose?
Donkeyman!

Which ever way I look at this HS2 Fiasco, I can't help thinking how that money might be used to help those subjected to the flooding, up north, and the Coastal Erosion on the East Coast.

I cannot visualise a time when it will be less expensive to ride the HS2 than go by car.

Unless Boris plans to whack drivers more as a global boring exercise.