High-speed rail? We care more about whether the wifi on trains works

The debate surrounding HS2 should force politicians to take a more considered, holistic view of Britain’s transport needs, writes Chris Blackhurst

(Alamy)

For almost a year now, I’ve been going regularly up and down from London to Cumbria to visit my elderly parents. I can do it there and back, comfortably, in a day.

In case you wonder where this is going, let me tell you, such a trip would have been unthinkable when I was growing up in the northwest. Then, London was five hours plus away, at least by train. Today it’s a much more manageable three and a half hours. And, mostly, the trains have run on time.

Which is why I’ve never understood the need for HS2, and why, thank goodness, the government’s decision to review the mammoth project, with a view to scaling it back or scrapping it completely is welcome.