You ask for "the right questions" to guide debate about the role and nature of High Speed 2 (HS2) (NCE 12 March). Government has identified broad strategic objectives for HS2 in the absence of a UK transport strategy. Indeed HS2, as by far the largest transport project in the National Infrastructure Plan, appears set to become the core of a national transport strategy. This places a heavy burden on project proponents to demonstrate it will be effective in delivering its objectives; for if it is not what is the fall-back solution? Major projects need to follow a project development process that defines existing problems, identifies and compares all potential project solutions, and develops a robust business case for a preferred project that is shown to be implementable and bankable. Because forecasting uncertainties many years ahead are large, forecasts need to be underwritten by risk analyses and cogent arguments that set out why this project is the right project. Without this there may be questions that cannot convincingly be answered and may undermine support for implementation.
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