The pro-HS2 campaign has had a tough few months, with emboldened opponents slowly building alliances and a larger coalition, and most news being bad news.
Today the Transport Select Committee has given those in favour of the line a welcome shot in the arm, with its generally favourable report, despite the large number of caveats.
Most of those are about the details rather than the principle, although the call to address the controversial issue of the monetary value put on travel time savings could have a big impact on the economic case for the line – though this will still probably just affect the figures used to argue for it, not demolish the whole edifice on which it is built.
A scathing report from the Committee could have really put the brakes on the scheme – instead, their thorough and detailed report is a useful contribution, and, because of the large number of criticisms and caveats it does include, can hardly be painted by the anti-HS2 crowd as a whitewash.
