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 […]
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HS2 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 MoreTransport Committee report on HS2 released
The Transport Committee’s report into High Speed Rail was released today. You can find it here. I voted against the report. In my view, it is too supportive of the present proposals. In committee, a number of us brought forward and voted for amendments which would have softened the report […]
Read MoreTransport Committee to publish High Speed Rail report
Via Transport Committee to publish High Speed Rail report: The Committee has agreed to publish its Tenth Report of Session 2010–12, High Speed Rail (HC 1185-I), at 00.01 am on Tuesday 8 November. Embargoed advance PDF copies of the Report will be emailed on Monday 7 November at 8.00 am […]
Read MoreChiltern Railways update
The new rail timetable from High Wycombe to London Marylebone has been causing considerable dissatisfaction amongst Wycombe commuters. As a regular local commuter myself, I have firsthand experience of the kind of problems that can occur. I have received a letter from Chiltern Railways explaining the current situation from their perspective: A completely […]
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