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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/29/alternative-options-for-infrastructure-investment
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| Alternative options for infrastructure investment | Alternative options for infrastructure investment |
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| I currently live in Germany but spent 10 years living in Switzerland and, having had great opportunity to compare the two systems, I have to say that high-speed is only a small part of the story. The Germans have the ICE train, which is extremely fast and can whisk you along at 300km/h (so long as the correct track has been laid on that stretch). The Swiss have fast trains, but they haven't built a specific high-speed network. Instead they have worked at progressively enhancing their existing network. | I currently live in Germany but spent 10 years living in Switzerland and, having had great opportunity to compare the two systems, I have to say that high-speed is only a small part of the story. The Germans have the ICE train, which is extremely fast and can whisk you along at 300km/h (so long as the correct track has been laid on that stretch). The Swiss have fast trains, but they haven't built a specific high-speed network. Instead they have worked at progressively enhancing their existing network. |
| Back in the 1980s the Swiss had a referendum where they decided to concentrate on high-density rather than high-speed. The idea was that they would sacrifice a few km/h and use the money saved to increase the coverage of the network. This meant that emphasis was put on connecting towns and villages with regular bus, tram or rail services so that everyone could benefit. Here in Germany I can flit between main hubs, but I pay a significant premium to use that service and then find that, if I want to get out to a smaller town, the service is sometimes quite dire. I'd much rather use the Swiss network, where the trains are not quite so fast but where I know that there will be a reliable connection to my final destination. Alan Mitcham Cologne, Germany | Back in the 1980s the Swiss had a referendum where they decided to concentrate on high-density rather than high-speed. The idea was that they would sacrifice a few km/h and use the money saved to increase the coverage of the network. This meant that emphasis was put on connecting towns and villages with regular bus, tram or rail services so that everyone could benefit. Here in Germany I can flit between main hubs, but I pay a significant premium to use that service and then find that, if I want to get out to a smaller town, the service is sometimes quite dire. I'd much rather use the Swiss network, where the trains are not quite so fast but where I know that there will be a reliable connection to my final destination. Alan Mitcham Cologne, Germany |
| • The proposed HS2 and the HS2 extension will go through beautiful, untrammelled countryside. If this were to be built, it would never go back to the countryside as we know it. There is an alternative. An international airport built between Glasgow and Edinburgh would benefit both cities, Scotland and the rest of the UK. The east coast and west coast main lines would need to be upgraded. But this should be done using maglev technology, replacing the outworn Victorian "wheels on tracks". Proper east-west links between the mainline tracks would include all the major cities. The links to the European network would then need to be established utilising the trans-London link, being built, and St Pancras. Using established routes has great benefit. Running the fibre optics for fast broadband along the existing rail lines and then the new connecting lines would make great sense. David Hurry Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex | • The proposed HS2 and the HS2 extension will go through beautiful, untrammelled countryside. If this were to be built, it would never go back to the countryside as we know it. There is an alternative. An international airport built between Glasgow and Edinburgh would benefit both cities, Scotland and the rest of the UK. The east coast and west coast main lines would need to be upgraded. But this should be done using maglev technology, replacing the outworn Victorian "wheels on tracks". Proper east-west links between the mainline tracks would include all the major cities. The links to the European network would then need to be established utilising the trans-London link, being built, and St Pancras. Using established routes has great benefit. Running the fibre optics for fast broadband along the existing rail lines and then the new connecting lines would make great sense. David Hurry Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex |
| • How much freight will HS2 get off British roads? Britain is a trading nation. Our roads are gridlocked, but freight still needs to move so that we can manufacture our way out of this recession. The money spent on HS2 could do a lot to help the movement of freight, such as building the marshalling yards needed. The rail route into Immingham docks, for example, is bottlenecked. Network Rail has plans for a third rail line, but funding is needed. This will help trade, exports and manufacturing, and create permanent jobs, including at Immingham docks. How many will HS2 create? Duncan Anderson Immingham, Lincolnshire | • How much freight will HS2 get off British roads? Britain is a trading nation. Our roads are gridlocked, but freight still needs to move so that we can manufacture our way out of this recession. The money spent on HS2 could do a lot to help the movement of freight, such as building the marshalling yards needed. The rail route into Immingham docks, for example, is bottlenecked. Network Rail has plans for a third rail line, but funding is needed. This will help trade, exports and manufacturing, and create permanent jobs, including at Immingham docks. How many will HS2 create? Duncan Anderson Immingham, Lincolnshire |
| • As over £30bn of taxpayers' money is to be used on improving UK infrastructure, it would be helpful if some of this largesse could be used to remove the Severn Bridge tolls. Lorries currently pay over £18 and cars over £6. These charges place Wales at a clear disadvantage and their withdrawal could lead to a major boost for the Welsh economy. Now – not in 20 years time. Charlie Harris Cardiff | • As over £30bn of taxpayers' money is to be used on improving UK infrastructure, it would be helpful if some of this largesse could be used to remove the Severn Bridge tolls. Lorries currently pay over £18 and cars over £6. These charges place Wales at a clear disadvantage and their withdrawal could lead to a major boost for the Welsh economy. Now – not in 20 years time. Charlie Harris Cardiff |
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