"Stop HS2" signs are frequently erected by opposition groups in areas close to the planned HS2 route
The planned high-speed railway in the UK known as High Speed 2 has encountered significant opposition from various organisations and individuals.
Political parties
The Green Party had previously voted to oppose the HS2 plans at its Spring 2011 conference on environmental and economic grounds.[1] Alan Francis, the party transport spokesperson, had previously outlined its support for high-speed rail in principle in terms of benefits to capacity, reduced journey times and reduced carbon emissions, but recommended a line restricted to 300 to 320 kilometres per hour (190 to 200 mph) which would enable it to use existing transport corridors to a greater extent and increase efficiency.[2] However, in September 2024 the party reversed its stance and now supports the line.[3]
The UK Independence Party (UKIP) is opposed nationally and locally to the proposed HS2 plans.[4][5] UKIP has been campaigning against HS2 as it is also part of the EU's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Policy. It had previously proposed a much larger and more expensive three-line high-speed network running from London to Newcastle (and on to Scotland), London to Bristol (and on to Wales) and London to Birmingham along with upgrading several other sections of the WCML and Scottish rail to high speed in its 2010 manifesto.[6]
The Brexit Party said in 2019 it would save £200 billion by shelving the HS2 project.[7]
Campaign groups
Stop HS2 organises nationally and represents local action groups along the route, under the slogan "No business case. No environmental case. No money to pay for it.".[8][9] Chair
Penny Gaines commented in 2020 that "The case for HS2 has always been poor, and is simply getting worse".[10]
Extinction Rebellion, a global protest movement. Alongside Stop HS2, Extinction Rebellion organised a walk of 125 miles along the proposed railway line in June 2020.[11]
The HS2 Action Alliance was an umbrella group for opposition groups.[12][13] These included ad hoc entities, residents' associations, and parish councils.[14] The Alliance's primary aim was to prevent HS2 from happening; secondary aims included evaluating and minimising the impacts of HS2 on individuals, communities and the environment, and communication of facts about HS2, and its compensation scheme.[12] The HS2 Action Alliance criticised the Department of Transport's demand forecasts as being too high, as well as having other shortcomings in the assessment methodology.[15][16]
Action Groups Against High Speed Two (AGHAST) claimed in 2011 that the project was not viable economically.[17]
The Right Lines Charter, an umbrella group established in 2011 for several environmental and other organisations that support the principle of a high-speed rail network but believe that the current HS2 scheme is unsound. Members include the Campaign for Better Transport,[18] the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Friends of the Earth,[19] Greenpeace, and Railfuture.[20]
Environmental groups
Perivale Wood in Ealing
The Woodland Trust opposes the current route of the proposed High Speed 2 rail link because of its impact on ancient woodland. It reports that 108 ancient woods are threatened with loss or damage from the project.[21]
The Wildlife Trusts, which have criticised the proposals, stating that the former Government's policy on High Speed Rail (March 2010) underestimated the effect on wildlife habitats (with 4 SSSIs and over 50 of other types of nature site affected), as well as noting that the proposals had not comprehensively shown any significant effect on transport carbon emissions and questioning the economic benefits of a line. The trusts called for additional research to be done on the effects of a high-speed line.[22]
The Campaign to Protect Rural England believes that lower speeds would increase journey times only slightly, while allowing the line to run along existing motorway and railway corridors, reducing intrusion.[24]
Other groups
The National Trust. Fiona Reynolds, at the time Director-General, stated in 2010: "there are lots of questions about the economics and above all the impact".[25]
The New Economics Foundation, a think-tank promoting environmentalism, localism and anti-capitalism. It published a formal response to the public consultation in August 2011[26] which concluded that the case for a high-speed rail link was incomplete and that the benefits of the scheme had been "over-emphasised" by its promoters.[27]
The Independent newspaper considers the costs excessive and the benefits uncertain.[30] An investigation published in February 2013 claimed that 350 wildlife sites would be destroyed by the new HS2 line[31] and an accompanying editorial argued that environmentalists should oppose the project.[32] A separate investigation published in March 2013 suggested that the project was unlikely to keep within its £33 billion budget.[33]
The Federation of Small Businesses, which has expressed scepticism over the need for high-speed rail, stating that roads expenditure was more useful for its members.[34]
High Speed UK "is an alternative high speed rail network developed by professional railway engineers to address the shortcomings of HS2."[35]
The 51m group consists of 19 local authorities along or adjacent to the Phase One route. It suggests the project will cost each Parliamentary Constituency £51 million.[56] Constituent members of 51m include:
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce opined that HS2 offered no benefit to its area.[70]
Wakefield Council opposes HS2, preferring instead "to upgrade rail connections between the cities and towns in the North's east and west and to make the national highway fit for purpose".[71]
^"StopHS2". 30 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018. We oppose the HS2 High Speed Rail link, because the business case is based on unrealistic assumptions, the environmental impact has not been assessed, it is not green, the strategic benefits are questionable, and the money could be better spent on other things.
^Millward, David (12 January 2012). "Tory MPs face high speed rail backlash". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2018. Another campaigner, Penny Gaines, chairman of stop HS2. accused Mrs Gillan of "bottling out" by appearing to welcome the concessions announced by Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary.
^"Memorandum from Bluespace Thinking Ltd (TE 07)"(PDF). UK Parliament. September 2010. 7. Problems with the current forecasting and analysis methodology. Archived(PDF) from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
^Wolmar, Christian (16 April 2014). "What's the point of HS2?". London Review of Books. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
^"Northamptonshire Arc". Northamptonshire County Council. High Speed Two (HS2). Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. the County Council objects strongly to the current published routes and insists that HS2 should only go ahead if a route can be found through consultation which minimises the potential adverse effect on local amenity, landscape and the environment
