UK: Campaigners Get up Steam to Fight £32bn Railway Project

Meanwhile, the Government also claims the construction and operation of a high-speed network would create thousands of new jobs.

HS2 Ltd estimate that about 9,000 jobs would be created to construct a new London to Birmingham line alone, with a further 1,500 permanent new jobs in operations and maintenance.

Michelle Craven, who is vice-chairman of Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum, said: "Something like this simply has to be good news for the rail industry if it involves UK companies working on the network - whether that be in terms of rolling stock, infrastructure or maintenance."

The Government says construction of the new line will cost £32 billion and would generate benefits with a net present value of around £44 billion, as well as fares revenues with a net present value of around £27 billion. Put in simple terms, the Government claims that for every £1 spent on high-speed rail, some £2 goes back to the British economy.

Yet Ms Craven claims the benefits to the rail industry in Derbyshire could be even greater - she says the region is the only one where the entire network could be produced in one place.

"Whether it's the track, the signalling, the trains, anything, we can do it all right here. We have the skills in place already," she said.

"We tend to work with the figures that for every £1 of the capital cost of a rail project, £4 of investment is generated in the rail industry - for this as a £32 billion project, that's potentially £128 billion, much of which could come to the region."

But if everything about HS2 is so positive, why has the route's first phase from London to Birmingham, which accounts for £17 billion of the capital cost, met such opposition? Financial analyst Nigel Hawkins, of think-tank the Adam Smith Institute, recently wrote an article claiming the Government's economic case for HS2 was "weak".

He said the per-mile cost of the London to Birmingham route may turn out to be four times more expensive than in other European countries.

He wrote: "Even assuming the aggressive passenger growth projections until 2033 of the project's promoters, it is very difficult to see how a commercial return can be generated.

He added: "And, of course, cost and time over-runs are very likely."

Matthew Sinclair, director of the Taxpayers' Alliance, also argues that HS2 should be cancelled, claiming the cost of the London to Birmingham stretch alone is £600 for every family in England.

"With so much pressure on the budgets of families and businesses, it is utterly indefensible that the Government is planning on spending such an incredible amount of money on this project," he said.

Campaigners argue that the Government is exaggerating the benefits to regional cities like Derby, pointing out that no figures have been produced showing how specific cities gain economically.

They also say there will probably be three times as many journeys towards London rather than away from it, meaning most economic benefits end up there.

Meanwhile, what regional benefits there are, say the campaigners, will be sucked towards areas immediately round the stations. The East Midlands station is looking as if it will be outside Derby.

The Derbyshire Green Party has come out against the network, claiming current proposals are economically and environmentally unsound.

The party's county chairman, David Foster, said that, with most UK cities, like Derby, not-connected internal UK flights would not be reduced.

Furthermore, a high demand for electricity from the network and the need to build new infrastructure would negate any significant carbon reductions.

Mr Foster said: "The evidence shows that high-speed rail draws capital away from regions. The Department for Transport admit that 73% of investment associated with this project will be in London.

"All taxpayers will help to fund the project but few will benefit. We fear that the cost of tickets will make it unaffordable for the majority of us."

He added that the project could well divert muchneeded investment from the conventional rail network.