Digital revolution will affect HS2

This revolution is ‘the elephant in the room’. With developments in the computer world advancing at an ever-increasing rate, the future microcomputer and brain (cognitive) computer systems in the next 25 years would be of presently unimaginable power.

Trains of the future (no need for drivers) will have control systems on board equipped with accurate positioning and laser and optical systems able to range and recognise objects in each train’s path. In addition these ‘intelligent’ control systems will ‘know’ the position of all other trains on the track. Hence a much higher train packing density could be achieved to relieve congestion than is possible on the present London-Birmingham route, all at a much lower cost than £33+bn.

The HS2 proposal does not take into account the fast-growing use of video conferencing. Future developments would ensure participants in video conferencing would have 3D visual displays with ‘online’ automatic language translation. This would also make international business conferences feasible - with no travelling necessary - when use is made of the worldwide communication networks.

And what about the research into eco-friendly aeroplanes using biofuels - or even ammonia made by the Haber-Bosch process? These planes would be twice as fast as HS2. - Glyn C Evans, Eden Croft Kenilworth.