* HS3 is an admission of failure of HS2
* HS2 has very little public support
* Greens back Campaign for Better Transport's ‘Better Not Bigger’ report
Carbon-intensive rail project HS3, like HS2, is an “unbelievably costly fantasy”, says Rupert Read, The Green Party of England and Wales’ transport spokesperson.
Reacting to government plans for HS3 announced this morning, Read, Green MP candidate for Cambridge, said:
“The proposal for an ‘HS3’ to cross the Pennines is a tacit admission that the entire concept of HS2 is a disastrous mistake. It's an acknowledgement that instead of building routes into London that only the rich can afford, we should be looking to increase capacity and provide better connections between our northern towns and cities."
“But the unbelievably costly fantasy that is the HS3 proposal is not the way to do it.
“By re-opening old lines - such as that between Skipton and Colne, and the ‘Woodhead’ route between Sheffield and Manchester - we could produce a major capacity increase, adding TWO trans-Pennine routes to the status quo ... at less than 10% of the cost of the proposed carbon-intensive HS3."
Read’s comments come on the heels of YouGov (1) polling which reports that only 9% of respondents believe that HS2 should be a priority for government expenditure.
Greens support the Campaign for Better Transport ‘Better Not Bigger’ (2) report, which advocates for a green retrofit of roads. Cllr Caroline Russell, Green Party Local Transport spokesperson, backs the report which can help deliver a vision for a greener, better transport system:
"We know that the over-reliance of our transport system on the private car leads to congestion, road danger and pollution blighting towns cities and villages across the country. The Campaign for Better Transport report on transport devolution shows there is another way and that car dependence is not inevitable.
“The report outlines a vision of integrated public transport, backed by smart ticketing, like London's Oyster cards, delivered by new Transport Consortia joining different councils and the creation of regional groupings to manage strategic roads and local rail and offers hope to regions beyond the M25.
“Following the move by North East Council Leaders last week towards re-regulation of bus services in Tyne and Wear, the report shows just what re-regulation of the buses could deliver with the convenience and improved service that comes with smart ticketing and an integrated public transport system across an area.
“If authorities pick up on this report we could see public transport provide a real alternative to private car use, supporting trips on foot and by bike with a user-friendly public transport network that is reliable, affordable and accessible."
2 http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/blog/roads/230914-roads-green-retrofit-programme