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Andrew McNaughton, technical director, HS2

I do wonder if the people who add comments to an article in The Engineer actually read the article first or just quote their preconceived prejudice. The prime HS2 objective is for extra CAPACITY, not speed. The Engineer is correct, the argument has been hijacked to reflect the benefit of reduced journey times. Speed is a mere spin off. As stated in the article, the existing Main lines will be freed up for extra capacity for BOTH freight and local commuter traffic whilst as much as possible of the express traffic will be removed onto HS2. When passengers travel on the new HS2 line, let the train go fast so we can then set another one after it, reducing the residency time on for each trainload of passengers. Building stations, as a through siding, will greatly increase capacity; this allows the HS2 line to remain in use, unlike the current main line where every station stops existing traffic. I agree that the route should encompass Heathrow and we should keep the construction workforce in continuous employment heading North & beyond, not the stop start style of the civil service. I realise that Southerners think that Motorways are parking lots and trains should travel at zero speed (I'm a Southerner born in Kent, so I am used to such zero speed comments as made by others.) Remember the [Un]Civil Service & Politicians started the M6 / M74 over 52 years ago and finished the final link in December 2008 near Carlisle. The Romans built the A1 to Edinburgh; meanwhile, politicians have failed to provide a dual carriageway to Scotland on Eastern side of Country. Should The Engineer have a guessing game, for readers, as to when HS2 will reach Glasgow AND Edinburgh; plus a guess at when a second dual carriageway opens to Scotland from London? Do we include guesses beyond the year 2100? Thank heavens proper Engineers like Brunel, Brindley, Macadam, etc understood what transport infrastructure means to a national economy. Some in the 21st century want to revert to the Middle Ages. I agree about comment regarding increased energy usage can solve problems, but trains and roads are more energy efficient than planes flying internal flights from remote airports where you queue for hours… However the primary source of increased energy usage in transport is commuting, 50 years ago we lived within 5 miles of our workplace, I was told it is now nearer 50 miles on average. Please note, I am not Anonymous.

30 May 2012

7:05 pm