Take-Off for New Rail Link

THE publication of a detailed plan for a new high-speed rail link connecting Yorkshire and London isolates Ministers still further in their unconditional support for a third runway at Heathrow.

Heathrow is one of the country’s principal gateways to the world and its continued success is critical to both business and the tourism industry, particularly in the face of a global downturn.

In the case of the third runway, though, the Government should not confuse acting in the national interest with backing a development that will benefit BAA shareholders first and foremost.

Business Secretary John Hutton this week signalled that the Government intends to approve the runway, even though the public consultation process is still under way. So much for listening.

But given that climbing oil prices may halt the growth in air travel, and continuing concerns about carbon emissions, Ministers have a duty to weigh up all options for meeting the country’s future transport needs.

A new rail route could reduce the number of people using internal flights to connect with services from Heathrow, so freeing up more runway capacity. In addition, it would encourage more people off congested roads by making rail travel far more appealing as well

as cutting journey times to Europe via the Channel Tunnel.

It is this benefit to the country at large which should force the Government to reconsider its position rather than putting London’s interests before the wider transport needs of the rest of

the country.

Inevitably, the rail plan has drawbacks of its own, particularly the length of time that it will take to construct – and the cost.

It does, however, substantially undermine the argument that airport expansion is the only way forward.

Of course, a new railway line would likely require considerable public investment whereas a runway will be paid for by Heathrow’s owners. That makes endorsing BAA’s plan a more palatable political decision but, as the Prime Minister never tires of reminding voters, Government is about

doing what is right, not what is easy.

(c) 2008 Yorkshire Post. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.