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If we did want to blow British money on an Irish rail scheme, it would be on the laughable Belfast to Derry line which is a complete disgrace for the two major cities of a modern country. Even the bus is faster, not to mention one cyclist.
Its actually the same speed as the trains in England it's just a crappy track and stops too much. I can't wait to use trains in England next year, fed up of the crap nonsense here.
Ireland is broke, and we certainly won't be paying for it. There is simply not enough traffic to justify the outlay even if anyone could afford it. There are more than enough low cost airlines and normal ferries. I think it's safe to say it won't happen in our lifetimes, if ever.
The tunnel will serve all Ireland. High-speed trains may project to Belfast, Limerick, etc, giving excellent times to British cities.
The total population of North Wales is around 700,000 or around 1% of the UK population. Therefore, there is little benefit in the UK spending money on a high speed line through North Wales when there are other, more densely populated areas which should get it first. In fact, such a line would mainly benefit Dublin and the RoI so they should pay for it.
I think North Wales is around 850,000. But let us not be pedantic. North Wales is sparsely populated because it is isolated. In the 1960/70s there was a plan for a barrage across the River Dee. The Moreton, Wirral, spur of the M53 was built to run to the road over the barrage. I believe Thatcher scrapped the idea. If a rail tunnel is built under the River Dee the region would be much closer to the Wirral and the Liverpool City Region. The idea is to give greater economic and population merging. A high-speed line will mean people in North Wales will get to Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester and main airports very quick and visa-versa. The population of North Wales will increase and tourism will clearly increase. The economy will increase. Also having a North Wales town as a terminal of Liverpool's Merseyrail will put North Wales in the Liverpool City Region. People can live in North Wales and work in Liverpool. It is all a win, win all around.
I think North Wales is around 850,000. But let us not be pedantic. North Wales is sparsely populated because it is isolated. In the 1960/70s there was a plan for a barrage across the River Dee. The Moreton, Wirral, spur of the M53 was built to run to the road over the barrage. I believe Thatcher scrapped the idea. If a rail tunnel is built under the River Dee the region would be much closer to the Wirral and the Liverpool City Region. The idea is to give greater economic and population merging. A high-speed line will mean people in North Wales will get to Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester and main airports very quick and visa-versa. The population of North Wales will increase and tourism will clearly increase. The economy will increase. Also having a North Wales town as a terminal of Liverpool's Merseyrail will put North Wales in the Liverpool City Region. People can live in North Wales and work in Liverpool. It is all a win, win all around.
That is an argument for extending rapid commuter transit - which I agree with - rather than an inter-city HSR line.
I doubt the EU would fund it as they want to link capitals.
And I doubt the Scottish Govt. would want to fund their end of it as they are more interested in an HSR connection to England.
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