I had a series of exchanges recently at the Transport Committee on the subject of rail regulation which illustrated how far economic regulation has drifted from economic reality. The transcript is here. The Chief Executive of Network Rail appears not to appreciate the role of price and freedom to contract, […]
Read MorePost Tagged with: "HS2"
NAO report shows HS1 is a financial disaster
Today, the National Audit Office publishes a report that demonstates HS1 is a financial disaster and radically confirms the doubts and fears of opponents of HS2. The report reveals that passenger demand has fallen far short of forecasts and government guarantees are kicking in so “the Department is now responsible for servicing and repaying the project debt. […]
Read MoreHS2: FOI rejected for West Coast Main Line peak time loadings
Last December during a Transport Select Committee oral evidence meeting, I asked the Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, a number of questions regarding the refusal of a Freedom of Information request relating to the West Coast Main Line peak time loadings. I wrote to the Transport Secretary as means of a […]
Read MoreHS2 consultants’ services have already cost over £25 million
Last month, I put down a written Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Transport, asking for the remit and cost of the consultants involved in the High Speed Two project. You can read my question and the answer in Hansard here and the text is below. As you can […]
Read MoreSurvival of the unfittest: why the worst infrastructure gets built—and what we can do about it
Via Survival of the unfittest: why the worst infrastructure gets built—and what we can do about it: […] Taken together, the UK and US studies both account well for existing data on cost underestimation and benefit overestimation. Both studies falsify the notion that in situations with high political and organizational […]
Read More51m’s response to the HS2 decision
Via 51m.co.uk, Councils opposing HS2 say that although they have no objections to the principle of high speed rail, they will continue to fight the current flawed proposals, following news that the Government plans to press ahead with the £32 billion project. Leaders will be examining the decision and considering […]
Read MoreThe Government’s decision on HS2
The Government has announced its decision on HS2: The Government has decided to proceed with the development and delivery of a new national high speed rail network to provide the capacity that Britain needs to compete and grow. I just left the Chamber after listening to the oral statement and […]
Read MoreCriticising HS2 via the FT
Via High-speed rail link must be built, economists insist – FT.com: Steve Baker, MP for Wycombe, said he was unconvinced that the huge cost of the scheme was justified. “The maths doesn’t add up; this is just sinking capital into a lossmaking project. If you’re going to use the power […]
Read MoreVoters turn against HS2
Via AGAHST: Nearly two thirds of population opposed to money being spent on HS2 A YouGov public opinion poll has found that nearly two thirds of the public oppose money being spent on the planned £32 billion high speed rail link between London and Birmingham (HS2). 64 per cent of […]
Read MoreExtra £500m for high-speed rail tunnel to protect Chilterns – Telegraph
Ministers have found an extra £500million to pay for a new tunnel under the Chilterns to pacify MPs who have been protesting against the high speed rail link between London and Birmingham, The Daily Telegraph can disclose. via Extra £500m for high-speed rail tunnel to protect Chilterns at The Telegraph. […]
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