The Transport Committee has decided to undertake an inquiry into the strategic case for High Speed Rail. The Committee will focus on the principal arguments for and against High Speed Rail.
The Committee say they are not intending to examine the precise specification of the HS2 route nor how the route would affect individual landowners, businesses and residents in the vicinity of the route. These issues would be dealt with in due course by a hybrid bill committee.
The issues which the Committee will examine, along with an indication of the questions it will pursue, are:
- What are the main arguments either for or against HSR?
- How does HSR fit with the Government’s transport policy objectives?
- HSR is designed to improve inter-urban connectivity. How does that objective compare in importance to other transport policy objectives and spending programmes, including those for the strategic road network?
- Focusing on rail, what would be the implications of expenditure on HSR on funding for the ‘classic’ network, for example in relation to investment to increase track and rolling stock capacity in and around major cities?
- What are the implications for domestic aviation?
The Committee also states it will look into the business case for HS2, for example looking at passenger forecasts, fare levels and the impact of lost revenue on the WCML. They state they will also look to assess on whether resolving capacity issues by upgrading the WCML would be more efficient and viable that a high speed line.
