HS2: RailUK Opinion Poll: what do you think will happen?

[HSTEd]

I'm concerned that people travelling from the far west of Japan will be faced with a change at Osaka to get the fastest journey time to Tokyo, instead of being able to use the through San'yō line trains that currently traverse the coastal Tōkaidō line to access the capital. How will that enforced change impact the attractiveness of journeys compared to the alternative of air all the way?

Given that projected timetable travel time to Osaka is comparable to that of an airliner, from gate to gate, I am not convinced that there will be that much of an issue.
People have a long history of changing trains at the ends of Shinkansen routes anyway, see the Relay Tsubame and similar for example
Relatively few trains travel through between the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen anyway.

 

[Peter Kelford]

Some of this is obviously academic now as it has been declared according to the BBC that HS2 Phase 1 is to be delayed by 5 years. It is now obvious that even if the full route were to be built, a five year late Phase 1 (and presumably Phase 2) is a serious fudge/compromise.

 

[Gareth]

My personal bet is on Phase 1 & 2a being built, well over schedule and budget. Phase 2b will be rolled into NPR and nothing of note will happen, except perhaps transpennine electrification and even that's 3/1 at best.

 

[The Planner]

Surprised this hasn't had any comment since the poll closed, or has the wrong answer come out in only 34.1% saying it it will be culled or severely compromised?

 

[Aictos]

Surprised this hasn't had any comment since the poll closed, or has the wrong answer come out in only 34.1% saying it it will be culled or severely compromised?

More the latter I wager!