LONDON – Britain is looking to act on its dream of having bullet trainsthat can rival the famous trains in Japan. Just that many in the countrydon’t want it.
UK is looking at a High Speed 2 network which, in its first phase, willconnect London to Birmingham and then – in phase 2 – reach Manchester,Sheffield and Leeds at speeds of 400kmph. The country hopes to at leastmake the first phase operational with 1000 seats by 2026.
More than just ramping up transport network in the country, the bullettrain project is being touted as something that will provide jobs tothousands of people – crucial in the post-Brexit scenario. Supporters ofthe project say that it would be a reliable network that would help theeconomy immensely. At a construction cost of 56 billion pounds though,critics have their doubts.
UK-based newspapers have reported that voices are being raised against theneed for the country to have a bullet train project at a time when anincreasing number of Britons are taking the aerial route. Some are callingit a ‘White Elephant Project’ because according to them, the cons outweighthe pros.
And then there is a China angle to it all.
It is being reported that Chinese construction companies are eyeing thelucrative tender for the project and could outbid local companies becauseof having ‘heavy purses.’ Guangshen Railway Company and Hong Kong’s MTRCorp are believed to be the front-runners even though the winners are notlikely to be announced till early next year. And not too many are toopleased with Chinese companies coming in across the English Channel andgetting a strong foothold in the heartland of Britain.
Then there are many who predict that if Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn isvoted to power in the next elections, the fortunes of the High Speed 2network – and the possible involvement of Chinese companies – could see amassive change.