willesdenjunction

Wouldn’t it be more objective to look at the problem in the context of all options. I read recently that the Japanese started constuction of their high-speed rail network in 1964. Do you think that they would have approached that project in the same way if they had had today’s electronic communications available to them then. Probably not.

Thousands of small, medium and large businesses have embraced modern electronic communications (email, web conferencing, modern telephone) successfully, permitting remote working by their employees as well as the successful distribution of their business to regional offices where appropriate. In this country we seem to have a pre-occupation with “bums on seats” employment. Unless someone is at a certain location, the work is apparently not being done. We all know that this is simply not true.

Of course, electronic communications does not mitigate the need for travelling in some cases, but I would urge anyone reading this to look hard at how they approach work and ask themselves, is much of their travellingt really justified?

Why don’t we improve our exiting railway networks to cope with travel when needed, but encourge less travelling where it is unnecessary.

Of course, electronic communication improvements do not have the same curb appeal as a brand new shiny railway when it comes to electioneering. This was confirmed in the last few days when the government suggested a laughable method for raising funds ti improve broadband connectivity. I say laughable for two reasons. One, because the amount they would raise by this means was totally inadequate for the task in hand. But secondly and of greater concern was the fact that many MPs cited that the economy couldn’t afford to spend money on such schemes at the moment. How can such an argument even hold water when there are rumours banded around that the proposed high speed rail scheme will cost in excess of £34bn!!!

Infrastructure investment goes beyong roads and railways. Communications technologies can and do offer a realistic way of reducing the need for shuffling workforces from pillar to post. Invest in this and you can free the existing transport systems of unneccesary traffic, freeing the capacity for those wishing to travel. Moreover, workforces and businesses can be based regionally, encouraging the growth of local economies in an electronically joined up market!

Meg

Thanks for this. Interesting new blog you have there. Will give it a plug at appropriate point. Strange coincidence that we should be writing from the same hymnsheet on about the same day, though clearly you have a more detailed knowledge of this area. you might be interested in ex-minister of transport (but you know that Tom Harris!)’ reponse on this if you’ve not seen it at http://www.tomharris.org.uk/2010/02/13/railing-against-high-speed/