Train link a £16bn drain

Published: 21 October, 2010

• I HAVE found your recent articles regarding the construction of the HS2 rail link between London and Birmingham very informative and am glad that this issue, ignored by the national media, is finding readership in a real investigative paper.

However I feel that both the New Journal and readers should be wary of sidelining the debate to the issue of housing and how nearby residents will be affected. 

I have complete sympathy with those who will be directly affected by the construction of this monster and especially those whose houses face demolition. I unreservedly support those community groups that stand against this ghastly use of public money.

But the danger is that if the campaign focuses solely on the issue of housing, it soon becomes ok for the project to be built, so long as no nearby residents are affected. 

This would be a misleading line of thinking. We must fully oppose this unnecessary waste of public funds not just because it will destroy people’s homes and communities but because it is a senseless and excessive use of taxpayers’ money. 

How the parliamentary parties justify the use of £16billion of public money so they and their elitist friends can travel between the two cities in a few less minutes is a mystery to me. 

All the while the axe is swinging down on the services that make a real difference to people’s lives. 

This hypocrisy must be exposed and made accountable. I would like to know how HS2 is justified despite a massive reduction in the transport budget. 

I would like to know who made the deals, who is going to profit and how. After all, this is public money that is being used, money taxed from residents of Camden, Birmingham and all the municipalities in between.

It is highly unlikely any of us regular people will be able to use HS2. 

My experience from European countries who have developed similar projects tells me that high-speed train links are largely unaffordable by the mainstream working population. 

After all, many of us will be struggling to keep up our rents in Camden by the time HS2 is supposed to be completed. Luxury trains to the Midlands will be beyond our means and dreams.

ROB BEHAN
Westbere Road, NW2