AIRPORT chiefs have launched a fierce attack on the Government’s high-speed rail plans as questions mount over the benefits it will bring to the North East. Newcastle Airport has written to the Government warning that it can no longer support the proposed £32bn high-speed rail plans which it is claimed will undermine air services, drain resources and leave areas which do not directly benefit at a severe economic disadvantage.
In their response to the Government’s consultation which closes today, airport bosses said the proposed economic benefits of the new line do not appear to take into account the demise in air passenger numbers which will result from the new route.
They had hoped the line would stop at the airport, but the Government is now selling the benefits of high-speed links . . . to Heathrow from existing rail stations in the North.
“On the basis of the information published by the Government, we have reluctantly decided to withdraw this support. For our region, the case just doesn’t stack up. We would derive far fewer benefits than places further South, like Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, but could suffer significant disbenefits if air services are lost as a result of a switch from air to rail. It seems to us that the further North you go, the lower the benefits and the higher the disbenefits.”
Don't XC have a few services that start/terminate at Newcastle? I suppose you could alter them to include this new station that will most likely never exist.
