High-speed trains will not benefit Derby, according to poll
THE majority of Derby Telegraph readers believe that High Speed 2 will not bring any benefits to the city, an online poll has found.
The results of the survey on the paper's website, thisis derbyshire.co.uk, showed that out of 487 votes cast, 45% (221) felt that the high-speed rail route, which will pass through the East Midlands, would be good for the city.
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Council leader Paul Bayliss vows to fight plans for a station at Toton.
But 55% (266) said they believed Derby would not receive any benefit from the £32 billion scheme.
On Monday, the Government published details of the second phase of HS2, which includes a link between Birmingham and Leeds.
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The route, capable of carrying trains travelling up to 225mph, would pass through the East Midlands, between Derby and Nottingham.
However, city leaders have spoken out against plans for the Department for Transport to site a HS2 station at Toton Sidings, 10 miles from Derby. The city council had put together a business case, which it presented to the Government, showing that a station in Derby would have brought the greatest economic benefit.
City council leader Paul Bayliss has vowed to fight the proposals and is urging the Government to reconsider its plans. The city has also warned that if the Government sticks with Toton, then HS2 could end up becoming a "white elephant" if transport links between Derby and Toton are not improved. Suggestions include installing a high-speed tram link.
The route and the proposed location of the station has prompted a lively debate on thisisderbyshire.co.uk.
DerbyBNB posted: "What's the point when you still have to get to Toton from Derby?
"By the time you've left your house/office and got there any time saving will have been lost. What we need are more carriages on the current lines, better standards of carriages and an upgrade of the current lines."
But Owain_Morgan said: "Fantastic news, I think. Also hoping Long Eaton will get a bit of a facelift when they start developing."
6 Comments
by janine2011
Thursday, January 31 2013, 6:52PM
“More importantly how much will the tickets cost and will those who have to pay for their own ticketsbe able to afford to use it? ? This is being paid for by the public but will be run by private rail companies so it will be interesting to see how much they will charge in relation to the cost of the trains at the moment, tickets which are extortionate as it is.”
by make_redgreen
Thursday, January 31 2013, 1:57PM
“I'm sure it'll be brilliant for those that can just claim the tickets back!”
by someawine
Thursday, January 31 2013, 1:35PM
“I should point out that I meant we are 30 years behind the French and a lot of Europe in the extent of the their high speed rail networks. The French have had nationwide coverage for many years”
by someawine
Thursday, January 31 2013, 1:17PM
“We need to be looking at what the French and Germans will be doing in upgrading their railways, otherwise we will have technology that is 20 years out of date. We are already 30 years plus behind the French TGV system, so if HS2 is TGV technology it'll be way out of date by 2013.”
by roberttaggart
Thursday, January 31 2013, 11:25AM
“No benefit ? - hence - NO2 HS2 !”
by dianae
Thursday, January 31 2013, 11:01AM
“I didn't answer the poll because my crystal ball wasn't working ...
It would take a lot of time to read all the figures available and research those that aren't in order to decide whether HS2 will benfit Derby or whether the money could be spent on other aspects of the railways that would be better for this city.
So how many people answering the poll were doing more than guessing?”