Press release

High Speed Rail plans leave ordinary commuters high and dry

10 January 2012

Responding to reports that Transport Secretary Justine Greening will announce the first phase of work on the High Speed 2 rail link today (Tuesday 10 January 2012), Friends of the Earth Director of Policy and Campaigns Craig Bennett said:

"We need to revolutionise travel away from roads and planes - but pumping £32 billion into high speed travel for the wealthy few while ordinary commuters suffer is not the answer.

"High Speed rail has a role to play in developing a greener, faster transport system, but current plans won't do enough to cut emissions overall - Ministers should prioritise spending on improving local train and bus services instead.

"Just a fraction of the massive budget for High Speed 2 would rescue the 30,000 solar jobs under threat from Government cuts - investment of this kind would take us a lot further, faster to a safe and prosperous future."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The High Speed 2 scheme's environmental impact assessment showed that it will be broadly neutral in carbon terms (DfT 'High Speed Rail - Summary of Sustainability Appraisal'). This is because although it will take some passengers away from more carbon intensive domestic flights, it will generate many new journeys and will take passengers away from existing - less carbon intensive - conventional rail services (84% of passengers on the new line will be new trips or from conventional rail, March 2010 Command Paper, p92).
2. Friends of the Earth is part of the Right Lines Charter group, which believes the Government's High Speed Rail consultation and detailed High Speed 2 proposals are unsound at present the process and proposals for High Speed Rail should comply with four principles:

• National strategy: High Speed Rail proposals need to be set in the context of a long-term transport strategy stating clear objectives.
• Testing the options: Major infrastructure proposals, such as High Speed Rail, need to be 'future-proofed' by comprehensive testing against different scenarios. This will help identify the best solutions for genuinely furthering sustainable development.
• Public participation: Early public involvement in the development of major infrastructure proposals, including High Speed Rail, is essential. People need to be involved when all options are open for discussion and effective participation can take place.
• Minimising adverse impacts: High Speed Rail proposals need to be designed from the start to avoid significant adverse impacts on the natural environment, cultural heritage and local communities (including biodiversity, landscape, tranquility and access) during construction and operation.

3. A full Friends of the Earth briefing on High Speed Rail is available here
4. Friends of the Earth believes the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it. We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. More than 90 per cent of our income comes from individuals so we rely on donations to continue our vital work.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust