if we must have this ridiculous hs2 project then it should begin in various northern destinations and the construction should head south ....

however, if - as usual - the south gets all the initial funding/jobs etc first there is less chance of it ever getting far enough to waste the northern environment and woodlands.

i sort of feel the thing won't happen anyway - everything in politics is changing so fast that planning beyond 6 months ahead seems to be wild and unlikely speculation. hwever, we could start by sorting out links between northern cities and east to west communications and get all the new buses, bringing a bit of life to smaller towns and villages. after that is all in place - then think about whether can afford to build a massive and massively expensive project.