Adonis "Teases" us about Electrification.

[Kneedown]

Whilst scare tactics clearly, it should be remembered that Adonis is one of the best transport ministers we've had in ages.

I wouldn't disagree with that at all. He's certainly very pro-rail. I've heard on the side that he is a bit of an enthusiast?

Just come back from a Q&A with a Tory MP/Junior Minister and it seems that the Tories are pretty committed to electrification. However...it looks like HS2 is going to be a casualty of the axe, unless the economy makes a major pick up - to quote the MP "its a great aspiration, and a good fig-leaf for not expanding Heathrow but in the current climate, billions to get to Manchester 50 minute faster just cannot be justified". Shame I did point out the capacity issue, but he waffled over that...ah well, politicians...don't trust em whatever party they are from

A sensible view. Much as i love the idea of a highspeed rail network here, i really do think the money should be spent on bringing existing services into the 21st century as i've said elsewhere.

 

[PhilipW]

...it looks like HS2 is going to be a casualty of the axe,

It is worth pointing out, as Lord Adonis constantly says, that any commitment to HS2 does not mean that large sums of money have to be committed in the next few years. The money only starts to to be spent later. There is a lot of planning to do first.

On that basis, I do actually think that HS2 will not be a candidate of any Tory cuts. Any immediate cut would just be symbolic at this point.

Adonis is going out of his way to try and make HS2 cross party by involving both the Tories and the Lib Dems - which is an extremely sensible policy for any project likely to take 20 years or so. Well done Adonis, carrry on.

 

[tbtc]

It is worth pointing out, as Lord Adonis constantly says, that any commitment to HS2 does not mean that large sums of money have to be committed in the next few years. The money only starts to to be spent later. There is a lot of planning to do first

I disagree - you can spend several million on planners, consultants, focus groups, lobbying, feasibility studies and all the "suits" before any turf gets dug.

Look at the cost of some things the Government haven't built, but still spent millions "thinking about"...

 

[PhilipW]

True, I agree that one can spend (and waste) money during the planning stages of any project.

Notwithstanding that, the real money only gets spent when the project starts. If this country is ever to have internal high speed rail lines (which all 3 parties now agree on), it would seem pointless to cancel the planning stages now just because the country's economy is in a mess.

True, no one can predict the future but Teresa Villier's pronouncements so far have given full backing to the HS2 planning stages.