A new parliamentary report by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the UK Integrated Transport Strategy study is urging the UK government to reconsider the route they are planning for the HS2 route. They are advocating integrating the rail and air proposals, and adding Heathrow to the route, so that it provides a much wider transport network and brings major cities closer together, benefiting businesses and global markets.
The report goes on to site Germany’s and France’s airport rail links as successful examples of high speed lines that connecting not only cities, but airports as well, without the need to rely on loops or branch lines. In addition, it states that by re-routing the HS2 link whilst being a little bit longer in journey times, would actually be cheaper to build.
The Heathrow expansion has been a hot topic for a while and this latest report only brings more headlines for the airport. Incorporating the airport into the HS2 link can only be beneficial in improving connection times and communications, but it does necessitate a joint approach. An integrated approach that plans for the future, rather than just filling in the gaps that are appearing now is surely a much better option. The report claims that this would move traffic from road to rail, provide potential air/rail substitution of short haul flights to release scarce airport capacity, widen airport catchments, deliver more customer choice, and give better regional access to global markets.
However, the report has led to Yorkshire Council to call for the scrapping of the HS2 link and build a wider package of transport improvements, including the moving of Leeds-Bradford Airport to the M1 corridor. Peter Box, Council leader, wants a wider debate on proposed transport improvements in the North and consideration given to alternative proposals. He said: “What we needs is greater connectivity. We need investment in our highways network to go alongside improving rail, including east-west links, and we need investment in a new airport.”
Box highlighted an alternative plan. High Speed UK has been developed by rail engineers, is backed by the Mid-Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, follows the M1 corridor, with a spur from Leeds to Sheffield.
Who the government listens to or what they decide is an not known; what is known is that there is some strong feelings about the HS2 plans, and there are certainly other options being placed on the table for consideration. Perhaps the government should listen and consider them.
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By Oliver Derek