In a recent piece I said that the HS2 link between Birmingham and London should be seen as just that – a link – part of a European network. I suggested that the trains could begin in Glasgow or Belfast (even Dublin) and pass through Birmingham and London on their way to Malaga, Palermo or Umea.
Had lunch with the Minister of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers, yesterday and we discussed a number of topics: air travel, high speed trains, land-use planning to name a few.
There has been much talk about the need for the Birmingham to London high speed rail project (HS2) to be set in a wider context. Such a view is wise.
In my view, if you are going to build a railway from one city to another: they should begin in the one city and end in the other. It seems obvious really.
Should be we build a high speed railway from London to Birmingham? Many say no and many say yes.