Basil - HS2 shows perfectly how London orientated this nation is.
EVERY single northern chamber of commerce has called for it to happen asap given the critical nature of rail (track) capacity adversely affecting northern areas - see access to south Manc, no new freight paths on the WCML for example.
Evrey single northern authority, other than Wakefield, supports the scheme.
Yet it will not happen for well over a decade and the London based media are doing all they can to disrupt such a critical piece of infrastructure for the north, with southern politicians often on the media telling us they know more about the northern economies than those that do business up here.
HS2 is desperately required, but so are far better rail links east and west, so are far far bette road connections - but whilst we get a fraction of the money spent on us compared to the SE we have to wait decades for anything minimal in terms of improvements.
Basil - I assume you'd support equal funding in the NW compared to the SE whilst we have the issues like ****ty old Pacers providing commuter services, no track capacity on the WCML, regional lines into Manc from south and very slow east / west services?
What is the argument to delay bringing those services up to something like those in the south benefit from by equalling out the spend?