Thursday 10 September 2009

High Speed Rail - White Elephant or Bees Knees?


High Speed Rail is an issue which is very often in the news at the moment. There seems to be at least one article on it in the local papers every day. Here, for example, is the one today.

For an environmental group, this is obviously a very important issue to discuss and arrive at our own conclusions on whether it is worth the money, energy and resources to complete the project, or whether there are better ways of providing good transport links and a boost to the economy in a way that is sustainable and low carbon.

On Monday September 28th we will hold a meeting to talk about these questions at 19.30 in our meeting room 54-57 Allison Street, Digbeth. Everyone is welcome to come along, contribute or just listen to the arguments and find out more.

If you have any questions about this meeting or just want to get involved in our transport campaigns in general, email joe@birminghamfoe.org.uk or ring (0121) 632 6909

2 comments:

Tim Weller said...

First, finish the electrification of the existing rail network and, returning trains to our existing empty double track rail lines that have no stations or even ghost trains!

Why is high speed more important than conserving our oil reserves and slowing human induced climate change?

Network Rail has wrong priorities!

Tim Weller

George Riches said...

Won't high speed trains use more energy per mile than normal ones?

Won't people spend more time switching from one mode of transport to another, or waiting for connections, than actually moving?

E.g London to Manchester: walk house to tube station platform wait for train, change lines, wait for tube train, walk from tube platform to main line platform, wait, get on high speed train, get off, walk to tram stop, wait for tram, on tram, walk from tram stop to final destination. Of course it would be quicker to cycle to/from the main line stations, but you try taking a bicycle on a train these days, or hiring one at the station (as can be done in Netherlands) or leaving one safely parked.

Even supporters will turn NIMBY when the new track goes close to their home.