The HS2 debate often gets framed around “do we need this?” But a much better comparison is “if we have X amount of money for trains, where should we spend it?”
Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, Cardiff, Belfast and Cambridge all lack a light rail or tram system. This is economically damaging. I know people who have had to turn down multiple jobs because there is no reliable way to get from work to their children’s school on time. People want to work. Companies want to hire them. But lack of infrastructure is turning working people into benefit claimants. I don’t want to pay for that.
The target user of HS2, well-paid professionals, have other options (slightly slower trains, planes, cars, online meetings), whereas the lack of public transport limits people who typically work in-person jobs and have no other options for travel. I do want to live in a society where we look after the most vulnerable.
I don’t know if HS2 is a “good” use of money in isolation. But I do know it’s a poor choice compared to building more light rail.
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Tags: Politics
This entry was posted on Saturday, May 23rd, 2026 at 11:00 am and is filed under Religion & Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.