CAMPAIGNERS supporting the construction of HS2 have named 'ten myths' published by opponents of the plans.
The move has been supported by around 170 business leaders, including many from Chambers of Commerce.
The pro-HS2 lobby has set out what it is describing as the 'outrageous and exaggerated myths that are commonly pushed by those opposed to high-speed rail', adding 'the antis have made wildly misleading statements – from Warwick Castle will collapse due to the vibrations of the train to the UK is too small to benefit from a high-speed network'.
Among other claims it dismisses are that each British household would have to find £1,000 to pay for the line, pointing out that such a figure ignores both fares revenue and the wider benefits to the economy, which have been estimated to be worth at least £44 billion.
Professor David Begg, who is leading the campaign Yes To HSR, said: “This document is important in winning the argument for high-speed rail. For too long the opposition have been allowed to push misleading statistics and bogus exaggerations. It is time for them to own up to the facts.
“The economic case for high-speed rail is strong. This project must go forward.”
Some of the opponents to HS2 have urged a major upgrade of existing routes instead, pointing to 'Rail Package 2', which was prepared for the Department for Transport by Atkins Global.
The group StopHS2 said: 'Rail Package 2 is designed to meet demand incrementally, has a superior rate of return, and costs just £2 billion.'
Even so, this latest push in favour of HS2 is being supported by Douglas McCormick, who is the managing director of the Atkins Global rail division.
Although Atkins produced possible upgrade alternatives for the DfT to compare against the proposals from HS2 Ltd, the company has long favoured high speed rail developments in Britain. Three years ago it proposed two High Speed lines from London to the North.
The supporters of the new document from Yes to HSR include David Frost, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce; Jerry Blackett, Chief Executive, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce; James Ramsbotham, Chairman, North East Chamber of Commerce; Geoffrey Piper, Chief Executive, The North West Business Leadership Team; Clive Memmott, Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce; Gary Williamson, Chief Executive, Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce; Neil Scales, Chairman, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Liz Cameron, Chief Executive, Scottish Chamber of Commerce; George Cowcher, Chief Executive, Derbyshire & Nottingham Chamber of Commerce Commerce; Yuri Matischen, President, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.
Major business leaders supporting the campaign include Dalton Philips Chief Executive, Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc; Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive, Aberdeen Asset Management and chairman of FirstGroup plc; Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge, Chairman, Nomura and a former chairman of British Airways; Andreas Goss, Chief Executive, Siemens plc; Philip Green, Chief Executive, United Utilities; Paul Thandi, Chief Executive, The NEC Group.
Signatories from the transport industry include Alistair Dormer, Managing Director, Hitachi Europe Ltd; Paul Chapman, Managing Director, HS1 Ltd; Colin Matthews, Chief Executive, BAA Airports Ltd; Charlie Cornish, Chief Executive, Manchester Airports Group; Tim O’Toole, Chief Executive, FirstGroup plc; Douglas McCormick, Managing Director, Rail, Atkins Global; Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive, Birmingham International Airport; Adrian Shooter, Chairman, Chiltern Railways; Keith Ludeman, Chief Executive, The Go-Ahead Group plc.