New high speed rail link ...is it worth it ?

My favourite compliant is that 'we' - whomever that refers too - won't see the benefits for 20 years. Well, if we had made this decision 20 years ago they would be ready now. It's also the constant provincial whining that is delaying this for so much longer anyway. Besides this is a step in addressing an imbalance in the country anyway which so much being in and around London, high speed rail will help reduce that imbalance. Yet we still get the whining because the professional complainers want to moan about lack of investment, moan about London-centric policies, and moan when the infrastructure comes near to them.

[Gary L]

Anyone know what the train fare's are going to be yet?

Probably not, just as we don't know what the train fares on any other lines will be in 10 to 20 years...

[Gary L]

Ok. I bet they're going to be bloody expensive though. it'll probably be a luxury thing at a luxury price.

Probably have to pay more if you want a spare seat...

I imagine the cost of the tickets will be largely paid by businesses for business trips. This isn't a commuter train - thus more people will be booking in advance too.

[Gary L]

To put the laptop on?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Damien

I imagine the cost of the tickets will be largely paid by businesses for business trips. This isn't a commuter train - thus more people will be booking in advance too.

Indeed, they'll be going for the businessmen and women who currently have to do the same journey by air.

Originally Posted by Gary L

Ok. I bet they're going to be bloody expensive though. it'll probably be a luxury thing at a luxury price.

The pricing will almost certainly be set in the same way as domestic airlines and inter-city rail operators do. Supply and demand - popular routes at peak times will be pricey, off-peak journeys will be cheaper. If they have to run a train, they will always rather have passengers on it than not. For those prepared to plan their journeys accordingly I see no reason why it should'nt be affordable.

[joglynne]

With the new travel times, areas further afield than the traditional dormitory areas for London will become attractive as a cheaper alternative. Some of my son's colleagues spend hours a day commuting and only live relatively near to London.

My son commutes to London from Manchester because his salary gives him a much higher standard of living up north and, with a shorter commute time, I can see others following in his wake.

Originally Posted by joglynne

My son commutes to London from Manchester because his salary gives him a much higher standard of living up north and, with a shorter commute time, I can see others following in his wake.

Does he work a regular 9-5, 5 day week? Seems madness to me. It takes 2 hours at best and then all the connecting to get to/from the station to work/home.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Chris

<snip> For those prepared to plan their journeys accordingly I see no reason why it should'nt be affordable.

Sadly, It'll still be a British rail journey, so likely to attract the highest fares in Europe if not the world.

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by Damien

Does he work a regular 9-5, 5 day week? Seems madness to me. It takes 2 hours at best and then all the connecting to get to/from the station to work/home.

It would probably only suit some but luckily for him he is in a position to work whatever hours he wants to do the work needed so can usually get away with doing a very long day in London then working from home the rest of the week.

On line check ins, no luggage and being only 15 minutes from the airport make his journey shorter than that of some of his staff. He even beats the travel time of some when he uses the train and can normally utilise the travel time to carry on working.

There will be other benefits other than being able to get to Birmingham/ Manchester a bit quicker .It will release more capacity on the existing network for increased freight haulage,hopefully putting the brakes on the increasing amount of freight carried on the roads .

[raging bull]

I wouldn't have thought that freight traffic be allowed on the HS2 line.
Don't they wear out the tracks more?