Rail Technology | What people don’t know about HS2

Arnab Dutt, managing director of British manufacturer Texane and a public member of Network Rail, argues against the all-too-common belief that investing in both HS2 and the existing infrastructure are not mutually compatible. 

As a public member of Network Rail, a group of around 40 people who oversee the organisation’s secondary governance scrutinising the effectiveness of the Board, it’s fair to say that I’m more up to speed on the rail investment programme than the average traveller. But if you ask anyone on a train today what they think of the HS2 project, you should expect to hear some very ill-informed opinions.

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Time to invest in Transport | Railway Strategies

"If you ask anyone on a train today what they think of Britain’s railway network, you should expect to hear some ill-informed nonsense.

"As a public member of Network Rail, I am perhaps more up to speed than the average rail traveller, but it still surprises me how little people know about ongoing investment in the rail network. People know about HS2, of course, but they don’t realise that investment in existing lines and stations is going on at just as large a scale.

"Look at stations. Investment is having a hugely positive effect on commuter experience. You only have to spend time at two of the busiest stations in the country, namely King’s Cross and Birmingham New Street, to see how such physical transformations influence daily commutes. Investment in stations, including lengthening platforms, means fewer delays, increasing capacity throughout the timetable, and of course providing a more pleasant journey. It is done with passengers in mind.

"This is all great, but we need much more, and not just in the rail sector but in airports and the whole joined up business of transport infrastructure."

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Let's Get Excited About Britain's Brighter Rail Future

"Up to now, the anti HS2 campaign has overwhelmed everyone. I think the Government and the UK rail industry haven’t been nearly forceful enough in making what is actually a very compelling case for HS2."

"The simple fact is if we don’t invest in HS2, our network grinds to a halt in 2050. There will simply not be enough capacity for the huge growth in passengers and rail freight.

"We are trying to operate a Victorian railway network minus the Beeching cuts in the 21st century, and that is obviously not going to be enough for our future needs, especially as we want to encourage more freight to get off the congested roads and switch to the greener alternative of rail."

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Is there a strong enough business case for HS2?

I think that the anti HS2 PR has engulfed everyone. The Government and Department for Transport haven’t been forceful enough in making the case for HS2. 

If we don’t invest in HS2, our network grinds to a halt in 2025. There will simply not be enough capacity for the huge growth in passengers and rail freight.
We are trying to operate a Victorian railway network minus the Beeching cuts in the 21st century, and that is obviously not going to be enough for our future needs, especially as we want to encourage more freight to get off the congested roads and switch to the greener alternative of rail.

In my view, they are taking far too long to implement HS2. We should be connecting London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Scotland now, not over the next 30 years.

I would also suggest that the Institute of Directors should not have come out against HS2 on the basis that its members are against it because its members are clearly ill informed to have reached that conclusion. They don’t understand the structural issues, that HS2 is fundamentally important. It is not about shaving 20 minutes off a journey to Birmingham. It’s about creating the rail capacity that the country needs as the economy grows. But that message isn’t getting across.

Arnab Dutt is the managing director of British exporter and manufacturer Texane, and is a public member of Network Rail. To see the full article on Elite Business, click here.