Upgrading West Coast line 'not an alternative to HS2' [Rail News]
Date: 18/04/2016
THE project to build HS2 had 'withstood fierce debate and cross-examination', former transport secretary Andrew Adonis has told the House of Lords. Lord Adonis, who now chairs the National Infrastructure Commission, was speaking during the second reading debate of the Hybrid Bill which authorises Phase 1 of the project, which was approved by the House of Commons earlier this month. He was transport secretary in 2008 when the HS2 project began to be planned. He conceded that challenges exist, but warned the Lords that the often-touted alternative, that of upgrading the West Coast Main Line, would not meet future demands for transport. He explained: 'Upgrading a busy main line railway is like conducting open heart surgery on a moving patient. Its hardly a compelling alternative to HS2 let alone a cheap one.
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THE project to build HS2 had 'withstood fierce debate and cross-examination', former transport secretary Andrew Adonis has told the House of Lords. L...
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