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Chiltern Society HS2 newsletter
December 2011
December has been a quieter month than November, but there have been a few developments.
- The Transport Select Committee took evidence from Justine Greening on 14 December. A number of questions were asked about HS2. These elicited a response that the decision will be announce in January / February.
- The Bow Group has issued a paper calling for a political consensus based on a route through Heathrow.
- Bucks business leaders say 'HS2 is not viable'.
- Protest song 'Oak Tree Lament' is now available for download, and could make the Christmas hit list with your help
There has been a lot of discussion about the £500m tunnelling feasibility study, but the proposal in the Chilterns to extend the tunnel from Amersham to the Little Missenden tunnel makes little difference to the damage the proposed route would inflict upon the AONB. However, as a I said last month, it is 'a sprat to catch a mackerel'. In other words the Government is seeking to establish whether tunnelling would reduce the opposition. It may well do with some people, but the lack of an economic case still needs to be answered by the Government.
The main debate in the month has polarised between capacity and alternate routes.
- Capacity has become a much discussed topic, since the TSC indicated that they saw this as the main issue. HS2AA carried out a survey of trains on the WCML which showed that on average the trains leaving Euston at peak hours before 7pm were only 56% full. Those leaving after 7pm, when the cheaper fares start were full. Even Philip Hammond agrees that without a compelling case for more capacity, there is no need for HS2.
- Alternate routes are becoming a hotter topic. Last month, Maria Eagle started the ball rolling by proposing a route through Heathrow and following the M40, and the TSC recommended that alternate routes involving Heathrow should be looked at. This month the Bow Group have picked this up, pointing out that this was originally a Conservative proposal. Peter Hain, the Shadow Welsh Secretary has joined the game, suggesting that a transport hub at Heathrow with Great West Main Line stopping there would be advantageous for Wales. There are other proposals that follow the M1. I am sure that more proposals will appear, particularly as the airport debate matures.
There are a number of articles which highlight these points. Included is an announcement that Poland is cancelling a very high speed project in favour of a high speed project using Pendolinos.
Transport Select Committee
Justine Greening being questioned on 14 December 2011 about DfT refusal to release WCML loading information following a Freedom of Information request.
Ms Greening makes it clear that she willing to look into what has happened, but is not prepared to debate HS2, as she believes that it may compromise the decision process being followed at the moment. She also confirms that the decision will be early in the New Year i.e. January or February.
The TSC has issued a paper on procurement process for Thameslink carriages, which was awarded to Siemens. Although this is not related to HS2, there are a number of recommendations on making the procurement process more transparent. The main recommendation was 'The procurement process completed by the Department for Transport which led to the selection of Siemens rather than Bombardier as the preferred bidder for new Thameslink rolling stock should be independently reviewed by the National Audit Office, say MPs on the Transport Select Committee.'
Bow Group
The Bow Group have issued an update(1.8MB PDF) on the current situation with regard to HS2, pointing out how there should be a consensus between Labour and the Conservatives on building HS2 via Heathrow following the Bow Group's original analysis in 2010.
Transport Times Conference
The 20 December conference on 'Will HS2 go Ahead?'.has been cancelled.
Conferences
There is a conference coming up which may interest you.
UK Rail Development and Investment Conference 2012.
Contact your MP
This link makes writing to your MP easy, you provide your details, the website proposes an e-mail, which you can modify. Please send the link to your friends away from the line. How about sending them a link to the Parliamentary Library briefing paper? This will keep the issue on the boil.
Protest Songs
Did you fight to save this England?
Last month I included a link to the Chiltern Lament, a protest song against HS2, This has been retitled 'Oak Tree Lament (Stop HS2) and slightly reworked.
Original version:
Revised version:
The song has now been launched for Christmas. You can help to get it into the charts by downloading a copy at a number of locations (listed below), or direct to your computer on TRACK 7655 to 80818 (Costs £1). Each sale contributes to the fight against HS2.
iTunes 79p per track.
HMV 79p per track.
Amazon 69p per track.
7 Digital 99p per track or £1.59 the pair.
Play.com 99p per track.
HS2 Blues
In The Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
HS2 looms like iron, ministers stand like a stone;
Spin had fallen, spin on snow, spin on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, not so long ago.
Our land, heaven on earth, few places can compare;
Peace and bats shall flee away if the train comes near.
Spin had fallen, spin on snow, spin on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, not so long ago.
Protesters and campaigners have gathered here,
Politicians and protestations throng the air;
But the monster still threatens, in its heavy way,
Worshipped by Number 10, all for vanity.
What can I give to help, poor as I am?
If I were a banker, I would bring a bonus;
If I were a adman, I would bring a campaign;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
Miscellaneous Articles
Christian Wolmar – 29 November 2011
Rail 684: Commons HS2 report raises numerous issues
CW appraises the Transport Select Committee Report, which he generally approves of, and slates Prof David Begg for misleading information on his website. More…
The Financial Times – 2 December 2011
Fast rail opponents point to half full trains
Monitoring of trains leaving London between 4.30pm and 6.59pm shows trains only 56% full. Trains leaving just after 7.00pm are 94% full, but this is an artificial spike due to cheaper fares after 7.00pm. This throws into doubt the DfT projections for lack of capacity, and as Philip Hammond said. "If the compelling case for additional capacity… was not there, then a large part of the case for high speed rail would be undermined," More…
Daily Telegraph – 3 December 2011
£8.5 billion "black hole" from HS2 high-speed rail link
Article on the report produced by 2 economists for 51m. They believe that the projected passenger numbers are very overstated. More…
The Independent – 6 December 2011
If everyone wants high speed rail, why is it doomed?
An article on the now perceived lack of political census on HSR, and bemoaning its impact. More…
Wales on Line 6 December 2011
Hain calls for Heathrow Hub-link
Peter Hain, Shadow Welsh Secretary sets the benefits to Wales of Hub at Heathrow. More…
The Economist – 7 December 2011
Delays on the line
A thoughtful article about the delay. More…
Birmingham Post – 8 December 2011
Ministers are losing nerve over HS2, warns Lord Adonis
Report of the response to Justine Greening announcing a delay to her decision. Does one detect an air of desperation on the part of Lord Adonis in criticising a perfectly reasonable decision to delay. More…
Railway Gazette – 8 December 2012
Polish high speed rail project cancelled
Poland cancels ultra high speed train in favour of Pendolinos. More…
Sunday Times – 11 December 2011
High speed rail not a viable business platform
A letter from Bucks, Berks and Oxon businesspeople slating the HS2 proposal. Click here to show/hide article.
High-speed rail link not a viable business platform
The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group, Buckinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Business, Institute of Directors and Buckinghamshire Business First collectively represent companies comprising hundreds of thousands of employees from across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, and we have surveyed our members on the merits of the £33 billion high speed rail link between London and Birmingham ("£500m tunnel to buy off high speed rail critics" news, last week).
Overall, the responses from members and businesses concluded they were not convinced by the assumptions and calculations as articulated by Network Rail and High Speed Two. In short, they could not rely on the scheme's merits.
We acknowledge the suggestion of the £500m tunnel option under the Chiltern Hills (an area of outstanding natural beauty), near Amersham and Little Missenden in Buckinghamshire. However, our members still contend that the business case is flawed: it will not cure the north-south divide; there are better alternatives to improving our railways; and the environmental case has no merit.
We believe that investment focused on shortening journey times between rail terminals and rural areas would have the same or greater impact. It would rely less on new track, be less expensive and less damaging to the environment. Business commuters are far more interested in the total time taken to complete a journey rather than the relatively small percentage reduction in intercity travel.
Paul Briggs, Chief Executive Officer, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce
Alastair Pike, President, Buckinghamshire Chamber of Commerce
Hilda Stearn, Vice-Chairwoman, Federation of Small Business (South Buckinghamshire)
Alex Pratt, Chairman, Institute of Directors (Buckinghamshire Branch)
Stuart Jones, CEO, Buckinghamshire Business First
STV – 14 December 2011
Report backs extending high-speed rail network to Scotland
Not surprisingly a Scottish Government backed Pro Hs2 pressure group has concluded HSR would be good for Scotland. However who will pay the estimated £9bn to build an HSR in Scotland? More…
BBC News – England – 18 December 2011
Transport spending skewed towards London
Think tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research North, estimates £2,700 for every Londoner compared to £5 per person in the North-East. Is this another item in the mix for Justine Greening? More…
Yorkshire Post – 18 December 2011
HS2 is the line to nowhere for the North
A letter from Yorkshire against HS2, advocating that it would be better to build an HSR network liking Leeds Manchester and Sheffield, and later expanded to York Liverpool and Hull to create a Northern conurbation capable of competing with London. This makes sense to me although I would include Newcastle and Middlesborough in the mix. More…
Chiltern Society DVD
We have DVDs in stock. Cost £5.00 + p&p. Please contact the Chiltern Society Office if you would like to buy one or in our online shop here.
If there are other areas you would like us to cover please
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Christmas and an HS2 free New Year.
John Gladwin
HS2 Campaign Action Team
