But BasilBush, HS2 is 19 years away - Manchester and MAN needs something done to Piccadilly yesterday.
The MAN Master Plan specifies the public transport share to be between 25% and 28% dependent on if the tram will be open to MAN in 2015. Below is a graph showing how well the different passenger groups are doing it, and now doubt they have difficulties with the locals (source: CAA yearly surveys 2000-2012).
But if we return to rail transport vs private transport, rail loses always on time except if you live in one of neighbouring houses to Piccadilly station. I have looked at 24 towns and cities within this magic 2 hour driving distance to MAN, and it is very clear - today's train franchises are not suitable to bind together counties. As an example: It takes 38 minutes to drive to Chester from MAN, but if you want to use the train it takes at least 1 hour 29 minutes included one train change. MAN is better connected to Yorkshire if we look at differences between train and car. The five destinations with the smallest difference in my comparison were Huddersfield, Sheffield, Doncaster, York and Leeds - all with less than 15 minutes more using the train, but all these trains have to visit Piccadilly station before continuing to MAN.