11-07-2015, 04:40 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-08-2015, 09:32 AM by BuildingScout.)
(11-07-2015, 03:19 PM)Elmira Guy Wrote: Liverpool to Hull seems kind of a weird idea. They're on opposite sides of the country. Wouldn't connecting both these cities to London by HSR be a better idea?
Part of the problem is that the country is too centralized in London, so the idea of an East-West line by passing London via Manchester and Leeds reaching Hull is to create a more two dimensional network rather than the hub and spokes around London. Also the Birmingham line is intended to foster companies to move out of London knowing that, shall the need arise, you could be in the capital in 50 minutes.
I'm not familiar enough with the UK to judge if the above rationale holds under scrutiny, I'm just passing along the thought process.
Lastly, each of the HS1, HS2 and HS3 projects had huge blowback, both from NIMBYs and from staunch conservatives who opposed any and all changes (this is almost unique to Britain, can't think of any other country where a significant percentage of population opposes change as a matter of principle).