Monday 4 June 2018

Why HS2 is responsible for 2018's Rail Chaos & Cancellations

2018 has become an Annus Horribilis for the Rail Industry, in a Year which was supposed to be Year HS2 took off.
The chaos which has followed the implementation of the RailPlan2020 timetable, along with the Failure of the East Coast Mainline Franchise and the problems of Southern Rail all have a common link. It would be easy to lay the blame at the foot of one man Transport Secretary Chris Grayling who since 2016 has presided over these disasters while ignoring pleas from Transport Academics who have decried his Rail Strategy. 
He also has gone back on political promises to electrify the Transpennine Route and Midland Mainline.
Yet the route cause of his troubles are not just his obvious incompetence and his inability to meet with and listen to stakeholders and experts with important messages to say but his dogged resistance to cancel the £56 billion HS2 Rail project, which has been predicted by Rail costing experts to top £100 billion.

The mega project has taken resources, people and money from the Conventional Rail system, causing rail fare rises, staff shortages and cancellations of vital upgrades. Rail operators have tried to cut costs by cutting staff on trains, leading to strike action and disruption. This leads to fewer passengers, as does higher fares.











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