SimonBlog

I think the UK needs six  high speed railway lines. HS1 - London to the Channel Tunnel (as now) HS2 - London to Birmingham, Holyhead, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds, to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stranraer/Cairnryan via Preston, and to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen via York and Newcastle HS3 - Liverpool to Hull (Northern Powerhouse Rail) HS4 - London to Fishguard Harbour and Plymouth (replacing the GWML) HS5 - Birmingham to Taunton via Bristol (link between HS2 and HS4) HS6 - London to Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds via Leicester (in case HS2 runs out of capacity, this would be a straight MML replacement) There seems little case for an ECML replacement south of York, but the electrification on that and to Cambridge, Ely and King's Lynn could definitely use some TLC.  Ben  is extremely insistent on that. Two caveats. (a) HS5 could probably be delivered by upgrading the existing line wth strategic bypasses. (b) HS6 is a fallback for if HS2 gets too full.

My friend  Ben  has the attitude that people working in the public sector should avoid mistakes at all costs.  He varies on the punishment but the ones he suggests, with respect, seem grossly excessive. With the greatest respect, I disagree. Obviously fraud, malice and recklessness deserve individual punishment beyond internal discipline. He complains also about general incompetence. In most cases, however, I see that as a management failure, justifying retraining or perhaps internal discipline such as warnings or even discipline but no more. Ben might have a point in cases such as the emergency services or the NHS where any actual damage can't be remedied.