Economic Benefits of high-speed rail will be concentrated in London

Contrary to the rebalancing of the economy claimed for HS2, evidence from around the world shows that such links can produce the opposite effect, sucking regional business and investment to the capital. Nor does the proposed route do anything for the towns and cities which are simply bypassed. The Department of Transport admits that 73% of the regeneration jobs it claims would be associated with HS2 will be in London.

Even the claimed £44 billion of benefits is based on an outdated view that people don't work on trains - not valid now - let alone in 2026 - and assumes no improvements on the existing network to 2043. The price of supporting the white elephant that is HS2 will be decades of ever worsening service for businesses and passengers on the existing lines and a bill of £1,000 for every taxpayer in the country.

Jerry Marshall and Hillary Wharf HS2 Action Alliance