After HS1, this is the first major new line to be built in a century. That is hardly overdoing investing in the railways.
Our rail network is antiquated, and frequently at capacity, with a combination of inadequate track, signalling, bridging, tunnelling and platform space all playing their part.
The cost of upgrading and modernising the existing infrastructure to a similar standard is greater than new build, the disruption and inconvenience to existing travel costly and unacceptable. We have had a hundred years of tinkering and make do and mend.
Post the Chunnel, we have stopped making major public infrastructure commitments. It shows. London to Birmingham is not enough. The spurs to Manchester and Leeds are better, a continuation to Scotland the logical conclusion.
Some question the technology. The technology improves as you do things. We need to move from a mentality of “what can go wrong?” to “what can we achieve?”
Hefty contingency provision has been made. But with any new project costs can be uncertain, what is likely is that the costs of the spurs, if built, will be significantly lower as lessons are learned. Yet there is also a cost in not doing anything. Our new main stand cost more than the entire Millenium stadium.
A new railway line will not tear up rural England. It may herald the dawn of a much needed improvement in rail travel.
Absolute f*cking bollocks, especially the bolded part.
However, as with all developments, there are opportunities to mitigate the negative impacts and create / restore areas of wildlife habitat along the route, for the benefit of the local people and wildlife.
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Bechstein’s bats, one of Britain’s rarest mammals, are living in ancient woodlands either side of the proposed HS2 (high speed rail) route in north Buckinghamshire. As a European Protected Species and UK Biodiversity Action Plan species, they have the highest possible level of statutory wildlife protection in the UK. Thus, the population of Bechstein’s bats in the Bernwood Forest area is highly significant and could be more important than many existing designated sites.
Researchers from the University of Leeds were asked by the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) to review the approach taken by HS2 Ltd, and investigate the impacts of mitigation proposals on colonies of the Bechstein’s bat in Bernwood Forest. They concluded that, without significant changes, the proposals would put the bats at risk of local extinction instead of protecting them. They were particularly critical of ‘mitigation measures’ outlined in HS2 Ltd’s Environmental Statement, which included short bridges and underpasses, and an 800m long barrier to prevent bats colliding with trains.'
Small Blue ButterflySadly, the last known site in Northamptonshire for the rare small blue butterfly - the UK’s smallest butterfly - will be completely destroyed by the new HS2 rail line. The Helmdon site, (a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)) is one of only few remaining protected wildlife hotspots where this species survives.
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/node/88252Barn owlThe HS2 route goes through several barn owl 'hot spots'. The barn owl is covered by the Staffordshire Biodiversity Action Plan species, while the Barn Owl Action Group has been very active in boosting barn owl numbers over the last few years. Not only would habitat be lost and severed, but high speed trains would pose a further threat to low-flying hunting owls.
Mammal MigrationA number of mammal species present in the Midlands have landscape-scale population dynamics requiring movement and habitat patches that HS2 may present a major barrier against. These species are likely to include roe deer, fox, fallow, otter, brown long eared bat, badger, brown hare, polecat, rabbit, weasel, stoat, harvest mouse, common mole, water shrew and lesser horseshoe bat.
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/node/88252The Government's proposed High Speed 2 route from London to Manchester and Leeds will have a significant impact on trees and ancient woodland.London to Birmingham (Phase one)
The confirmed route from London to Birmingham will cause:
Direct loss to 36 ancient woods
Damage to 27 ancient woods (due to noise, vibration, changes to lighting and dust)
At least 8 ancient trees are threatened by Phase 1 of HS2These are the figures we submitted as part of our consultation response to the Phase 1 Environmental Statement. They are a starting point and are likely to change as we work through the proposal in more detail as part of the petitioning process and (hopefully) win more protection.
Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds (Phase two)
The current proposed route from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds will cause:
Direct loss to 14 ancient woods
Damage to 21 ancient woods (due to noise, vibration, changes to lighting and dust)
At least 5 ancient trees are threatened by Phase 2 of HS2
Route alterations, the width of the track cutting (which will vary), road building to allow vehicle access, or noise and disturbance – first from construction and later the high speed trains that will pass at speeds of up to 250mph several times a day – could all impact on these woods and more.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/our-campaigns/hs2-rail-link/proposed-route/Ancient woodland is our most diverse terrestrial habitat, as the name 'ancient' suggests, it cannot be recreated by just planting a few trees in a place nearby.
A Greener Vision for HS2:http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/files/TWT%20HS2%20Greener%20Vision%20Spreads.pdf