Package deal B


Business leaders say we need it, but those affected complain that High Speed 2 will become an expensive ‘white elephant’. In recent months, some opponents have been focusing on a little known ‘alternative’ called Rail Package 2. Peter Plisner has been looking at what it would offer


ack in 2009, despite previously suggesting that high speed rail was too expensive, the Department for Transport (DfT) suddenly changed its tune and began supporting the concept. Many suggested that the influence of the new transport secretary, Lord Adonis, was a major factor. So, too, was the fact that


the Conservative Party, then in opposition, had also thrown its weight behind high speed rail in the UK. Whatever the reason for the sudden u-turn, the government’s first move was to set up HS2 Ltd, a private company that would deliver plans for high speed rail in the UK. In addition to making sure that plans for HS2 were drawn up, the


government also appointed consultancy Atkins to consider what was described as ‘high level potential road and rail improvement options’ comparable with the high speed proposition. At the time, the remit of HS2 Ltd was to consider the case for new high speed services between London and the West Midlands. However, the secretary of state also wanted to take into account the case for strategic alternatives. The exercise has been described as a sort of ‘stress test’ for the HS2


RP2 provides for 15 to 16 InterCity trains an hour from Euston


PAGE 24 JUNE 2011


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