Q. What is Government’s view on high-speed rail?

It is evident that the Department for Transport recognises that there is a rail capacity problem. High-speed rail is now on the Government’s policy agenda as a potential solution to the capacity challenge, but a lengthy five-year programme of corridor studies is now proposed before any decisions will be made.

Q. How can HM Treasury be persuaded?

First, by the rail sector continuing to demonstrate its much improved ability to mange costs and performance. Then, by seeing the argument: north-south high-speed rail will help close the north’s £30bn/year productivity gap and will lever in private sector investment and development to the cities in the Midlands, the North and central Scotland. These regions will experience a massive economic boost and prosper economically, reducing the call on public sector budgets as the pace of regeneration accelerates. This in turn will take pressure off the south east, reducing inflationary pressures and the need for further public sector expenditure on expanded infrastructure (in water supply, education facilities etc, etc). And then, Treasury needs to see that the effect of all the other measures that are going to have to be taken in the transport sector in the light of the Stern Report will make it essential that we invest in the most environmentally benign mode of transport to underpin economic growth.

What will finally help the Treasury mindset, will be a realisation that, with a long term strategic commitment to high-speed rail, it will be possible to avoid substantial expenditure on the existing rail network, for instance to create parallel freight routes as had been considered for the East Coast Main Line route upgrade, with all the disruptive major works that entailed: instead, rail freight will be able to take the more direct route, with more paths available on the main line and passengers will be getting the benefit of much more reliable journeys on the new high-speed route.

Q. Since this is clearly a long-term proposition, is there any need to do anything now?

Yes, this is urgent. There are opportunities on the ground for development of rights-of-way and high-speed rail stations that will become impossible to realise if there is no commitment to proceed. And, as the NAO Report made clear, we only have 10 years before the capacity crunch is reached. There is no time to lose!

Q. What is the Government’s view of Greengauge21?

That is a question that would have to be put to government. However, following a meeting with officials of the Department of Transport in December 2007, we received a letter from the Secretary of State which says: ‘It is clearly important that when decisions need to be taken, we know enough about the costs, benefits and practicalities of alternatives. Your work on high speed rail could usefully contribute to the generation of options, which on present thinking would start in 2009.’