Value of HS2 rail link questioned by think tank

Date: 18/6/2013

The value and benefits of the HS2 rail link may not be as extensive as its supporters have suggested, a report from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) has claimed.

According to the think tank, there is "limited" evidence that the £33 billion project will help to bridge the north-south economic divide, while its potential to boost growth isn't as strong as its developers say.

The NEF said: "Demand for HS2 has likely been overestimated by oversimplified government modelling."

David Theiss, a researcher at the organisation, added that the Government could spend the money on numerous other rail improvement initiatives that would serve to have a bigger impact on transport networks throughout the country.

"Instead of pouring billions of pounds into a single line that will take 20 years to complete we should be spreading our bets on a wider range of transport investments that offer better value for money," he said.

Yet despite the criticism, Ministers continue to throw their weight behind the scheme, arguing that it will serve to create jobs and lead to extensive economic benefits by stimulating businesses with links to the route.

Indeed, Transport Minister Simon Burns explained that the long-distance line will help meet demand for better travel options, and argued that money is still being invested in other attempts to upgrade the UK's rail infrastructure.

"It is not a case of HS2 and nothing else. During 2014-19 we are investing over £9bn on the current rail network, while latest figures show that over a one year period we spent upwards of £8.7bn on our roads," he said.

Once the HS2 line is completed, high-speed services will run between Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London, with journey times almost halved in comparison to those which currently operate on existing routes in the north and south of England.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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