Fresh calls to axe HS2 over pollution fears
There have been fresh calls for HS2 to be axed after it was claimed the project would increase pollution and further divide the country.
A report by the New Economics Foundation (NEF), commissioned by the Friends of the Earth (FoE), has raised serious concerns over the project, which will pass through the West Midlands and Staffordshire.
The report agues that HS2 will bring "more and more passengers directly into the capital's centre" with limited to benefit to the Midlands and the north.
It also warned that potential cost overruns for Phase 1 – between London and Birmingham – could mean there is no money left for Phase 2, which is due to extend the railway to Manchester and Leeds.
The NEF said: "At worst, the line could stop short, not even connecting core northern cities."
The report, published on Wednesday, focuses strongly around the cost of the project – which could spiral beyond £100 million.
Both NEF and FoE argue the money could be far better spent on other rail projects – including full electrification of the Midland Mainline and linking Paddington and Crossrail with the West Coast Mainline.
Their report states: "The decision to spend vast amounts of money on HS2 was the wrong decision, but fortunately one that can still be reversed.
"Investment in the railways needs to focus on alleviating commuter misery and moving freight from road to rail. There is a package of railway investment that does this much better than HS2.
"Scrapping HS2 and replacing it with an alternative rail investment package could free-up some additional money for funding urban public transport."
On the prospect of increased pollution, the report added: "HS2 will not reduce carbon pollution, instead it will increase it. Construction of HS2 will lead to carbon emissions as would building of any other substantial infrastructure project.
"Proponents often argue that it will however offset these through attracting people from cars or domestic flights. However the Department for Transport’s own figures suggest only one per cent of passengers are likely to be people who would have flown, and only four per cent of people who would have driven.
"This analysis also does not take into account the aviation industry switching slots for domestic flights to more profitable international flight, as is the norm, nor increased car transport as people drive to HS2 rail stations instead of using local stations."
Chris Crean from West Midlands Friends of the Earth said: “Transport is the UK’s biggest source of climate wrecking emissions. In order to deal with the climate crisis, we know that we have to encourage people out of their cars, but right now cycling across much of England is unsafe, bus routes are being cut, and far too many trains are overcrowded, late and ridiculously expensive.
“White elephants like HS2 aren’t the answer. It will take over a decade to build, destroy ancient woodlands and only 4% of those projected to use HS2 would otherwise have driven.”
An HS2 spokesman said: “It’s not true to say HS2 won’t benefit the Midlands and the North. HS2 will service over 25 stations from Scotland to the South East, representing around half of the UK population. All along the route local economic plans are being developed that ensure the whole country will benefit. Connecting the Midlands Engine to the Northern Powerhouse will unleash the economic potential of the country, adding £14 billion to the West Midlands economy.”
