The HS2 alternative

This film confirms that the former Great Central alignment southwards from Rugby to Quainton Road, where the route to Aylesbury and London is still intact, remains substantially clear of development and is available for reinstatement as a 125 mph railway. Since, we are told, the reason for HS2 is to increase capacity, and the congestion is mostly south of Rugby, why don't they do the obvious thing and get on with the job? The east-west route can be done at the same time, all for a fraction of the cost of HS2, and in a fraction of the time?

Reinstatement of the connection to the GW main line between Ashendon Junction (north of Princes Risborough) and Grendon Underwood Junction is also feasible, and the connection between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury is still in use. Together with the planned reinstatement of the Oxford to Cambridge line, a useful interchange could be developed at Calvert where the Oxford-Bletchley line passes over the Great Central. When the need is for connectivity, these projects would make a worthwhile and useful package.