Does more need to be done to sell high-speed rail to the public?
There is danger in a vacuum that the case made by protestors – most of them, but not all, residents worried about the effects of the line on their lives – will be the loudest heard. The Heathrow third runway saga showed that ‘personal’ arguments have a power when given media exposure, especially against business interests making a purely economic case.
It would be good to hear more about HS2’s environmental benefits – but the worry is that these are unclear, and at best neutral.
The whole project seems to have public support at the moment, but its opponents are gathering strength, confidence and allies. Those in favour must marshal their best arguments – and make sure they are heard.
