Doubts are raised over the HS2 case

After identifying that HS2 could avoid a capacity shortfall on the north-south rail routes, the newspaper’s analysists point out that figures predicting a 133 per cent increase in demand for long-distance rail travel between now and 2033 are twice the estimates of most other studies.

They point to the fact that Britain’s only existing high-speed line, from London to the Channel Tunnel, has never come close to achieving its projected passenger numbers and add assumptions about high-speed lines in other countries, such as Taiwan and France, have often turned out to be “over-optimistic.”

The report also adds that a large chunk of HS2’s supposed benefits rest on the assumption that business people are un-productive while in transit.

In an age of laptops, mobiles and broadband this seems questionable.

But for all that, with all three main political parties in favaour of the £32 billion development, which is set to cut a swathe through south Warwickshire, the newspaper feels the project may just become unstoppable.

A decision should be made by Christmas. If appoved, work would start in 2017.