HS2: Arguments For and Against the High-Speed Rail Lines

HS2 Arguments For and Against the High-Speed Rail LinesGeorgiana Raluca AndreiIntroductionWith the rapid growth of the economy and rapid enlargement of technology, there is the need for a development of infrastructure. HS2 is a proposed infrastructure project to build a high speed rail line from capital of the United Kingdom to Manchester and Leeds, via Birmingham, to begin operation in 2026 and be completed in 2032. It was supported by the Labour presidency after 2009 and has had the support of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition G everyplacenment since May 2010 (Butcher in Parliament, 2015).HS2 bequeath be constructed in two separate phasesPhase 1 from London Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street and Lichfield with intermediate stations in West London (at old Oak Common) and at Birmingham AirportPhase 2 from the West Midlands, splitting into two legs an eastern leg to Leeds New highway with intermediate stations in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire and a western leg to Manchester with intermediate stations at Crewe and Manchester Airport.In total, the scheme is estimated to cost 42.6 one thousand thousand for the infrastructure, with a further 7.5 billion for rolling stock. The information presented by Louise Butcher on (Parliament, 2015) offers a clear report about HS2 Phase 1 of the scheme. Supporters claim that construction of HS2 is urgently needed in order to deliver wider economic and regional returns and to meet future demands. Opponents maintain that these demands are over stated and the same outcome can be achieved with other, cheaper means.Arguments for and against HS2 are based on competing ideas not only about what the country needs in terms of unseasoned or improved rail infrastructure, but about how (if needed at all) it should be delivered and what the benefits and be are of the ideas put forward. The two sides fundamentally disagree with the others interpretation of the facts and figures about the scheme.The case forThe gover nment believes that creating a high-speed rail line between London and North of England bequeath produce numerous advantages to society.Travel timeOne of the most important benefits is the time saving. It is anticipate that once the project finished, it result make a balance in the time spent travelling. For example, Leeds to Birmingham is slashed from 1 hour 58 minutes to just 57 minutes. The East Midlands hub at Toton is 19 minutes from Birmingham. Manchester to Birmingham more(prenominal)(prenominal) than halves from 88 to 41 minutes (BBC parole Magazine, 2015). Also, it will improve productivity through savings to journey time.CrowdsCreating a high-speed rail line would cater less crowded gearings and make the journey more comfortable. This will protect the economy growth and the quality of life , and although cheaper measures might be easier ( such as upgrading existing lines), that would provide a short-term fix and its not suitable for long-term.PunctualityThe govern ment argue that the HS2 trains will stick more reliably to their timetables than the average train. ( BBC News, 2013). This is an important issue because the pasengers value being on time .Boosting UK economyCreating the HS2 will provide various ways to bring up the economy, offering the prospect of a sustainable growth and allowing prosperity to expand beyond south east England, rebalancing UK economy. It will generate22,000 construction jobs in the following five yearsand once the total line is runningcreate 100,000 jobs (BBC News Magazine, 2015). It will improve the access to employment, will make relocation of byplay easier and will create opportunities for increased business, tourism and leasure activities. The wider economic benefits of a UK HSR network to wider West Midlands cities, towns and shire counties is expected to be 5.3 billion over 60 years, magic spell the London to Birmingham route alone is expected to boost Birminghams economy by 1.23 billion, and towns and cities in surrounding counties by 2.5 billion (GO-HS2, 2015) .Good for the environmentHS2 will reduce dependency on air and car travel, this way reducing CO2 emissions. High speed trains are powered by electricity, so their environmental performance will improve over time as more electricity comes from renewable sources. By reducing the time travel between cities in the north of England and Scotland, it will encourage people to switch from air to rail. The construction of HS2 requires less land than building a new motorway. Also, it has the potential to conjure up further the ongoing regeneration of Birmingham city centre and boost growth rough Birmingham Airport and NEC.The case againstThe final bill wrong investment?The expected cost of HS2 from London to Manchester and Leeds was originally 33bn, in 2009 prices, but earlier this year, at the time of the High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill debate, the cost leapt to 50bn, in 2011 prices. This excludes such things as localised infr astructure to connect with HS2, foot bridges and farm bridges to cross it. In addition, this does not include the Heathrow Link or any provision for changes to the scheme (Stop HS2, 2015). There are cheaper alternatives that would have the same effect as HS2 and will not cost as much, would be ready earlier and be better balanced in meeting needs across the whole country.Demolition of homes and damage to rural EnglandThe most touch on area will be the north of Londons Euston station. More than half of the homes affected are in or around Camden. Across the entire line more than 600 homes will be bulldozed and another 340 homes will becut off from their wider neighbourhood. Homeowners will get the market value of their property, plus 10% and moving costs Infrastructure supporting the line will be built on 250 acres of green belt land ( BBC News Magazine, 2015). HS2 threatens 350 unique habitats, 67 irreplaceable ancient woods, 30 river corridors, 24 Sites of Special Scientific Intere st plus hundreds of other sensitive areas (Stop HS2, 2015). About 60 properties on the proposed phase 1 route are likely to intimacy levels of noise which will qualify for noise insulation under the Noise Insulation Regulations. The number of properties that may experience a noticeable increase in noise on the phase 1 route has been reduced since consultation by a third from 4,700 to around 3,100 ( BBC News Magazine, 2015).Increased carbon emissionsOpponents claim that few high-speed train passengers will transfer from air so the carbon emissions will not be reduced. Also, HS2 proposes to run trains at high speed which will need more energy than the existing Eurostar London-Paris trains pushing up electricity and carbon consumption. It will use three times more energy than a normal inter-city train (HS2 Action Alliance, 2015).Illusion of creating new jobsIts been argued that HS2 will not actually create that many new jobs, most of them being associated with existing jobs within re tail activity that have simply moved from other areas towards the new station. Over 70% of the jobs will be created in London, making London the central city.HS2 will not benefit the ordinary traveller make such an expensive train line would mean an increase in the train tickets. HS2 will only serve toincrease the price of train faresas train companies have to redistribute the costs associated with running on a line such as this (YouGov, 2015)ConclusionThe Government is proposing to provide the capacity desperately needed across the UK through a new High Speed Rail Network. The new route will link London to Birmingham, then on to Manchester and Leeds forming what is cognise as the Y-Network. Eventually HSR trains will run to Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Construction of such an important project brings together people who support the cause and people who dont. some(prenominal) sides have important arguments to take into consideration when deciding which side to take.It remains a hotly contested public issue because particular individuals, groups and industries believe they benefit from HS2 while others consider that they lose out.Reference listButcher , L. (2015) Railways HS2 Phase 1 Commons Library Standard Note online. uncommitted at http//www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/briefing-papers/SN00316/railways-hs2-phase-1 ( accessed 1st of troop 2015).BBC News Magazine (2013) HS2 12 arguments for and against online. Available at http//www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24159571 ( accessed 1st of March 2015 ).BBC News (2013) Quantifying the benefits of HS2 online. Available at http//www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22551178 ( accessed 1st of March 2015).GO-HS2 (2015) GO HS2 High speed rail online. Available at http//www.go-hs2.com/BenefitsOfHS2/EconomicImprovements.aspx ( accessed 1st of March 2015).Stop HS2 (2015) Stop HS2 online. Available at http//stophs2.org/facts ( accessed 1st of March 2015).HS2 Action Alliance (2015) Environment carbon journeys onlin e. Available at http//www.hs2actionalliance.org/case-against-hs2/environment/carbon-journeys/ ( accessed 1st of March 2015).YouGov (2015) For and against High speed rail online. Available at https//yougov.co.uk/news/2012/01/20/for-against-high-speed-rail/ ( accessed 1st of March 2015).