> The issue with a high speed rail project like HS2 is that the people most affected by it are the ones who don't see much direct benefits from it.
>If the line is coming past you then you have to put up with the noise from it and the building and land use change issues, but you don't get to actually use it as there won't be any stations for you. It's not possible to add stations mid-line as that would slow down the "high speed" aspect.
Except that's actually nonsense.
Most of the benefit comes from moving the intercity trains off of the WCML meaning more local and regional trains can be run.
However the line itself runs through expensive Buckinghamshire villages, this line won't relieve the Chiltern main line much.
While those in Milton Keynes, Northmapton, Hemel Hempstead etc will love the extra services and space to London, and the increased services and reliability on the Rugby->Wolverhampton and Bimingham-Nottingham corridors will be great, those somewhere like Wendover won't see any benefit.
>If the line is coming past you then you have to put up with the noise from it and the building and land use change issues, but you don't get to actually use it as there won't be any stations for you. It's not possible to add stations mid-line as that would slow down the "high speed" aspect.
Except that's actually nonsense.
Most of the benefit comes from moving the intercity trains off of the WCML meaning more local and regional trains can be run.