Sir – I would like to add my pennyworth of thoughts to the debate about the proposed new high-speed railway line. There is a need for more north-south mainline capacity. Creating more capacity on the existing main lines is a mistake, because a failure (accident, sabotage, weather etc) loses the lot, including the new capacity. We need a separate line. The incessant negative emphasis on it being a high-speed line, with comments that it will be costly, is a vanity-driven project etc is rather beside the essential point. Any new line will be costly. While building a new line, it may as well be a high-speed line with its additional benefits. A new line will of course add flexibility to the network in its ability to handle local, intercity and freight in the mix, and reduce crowding on existing lines. A high-speed line, when extended to Scotland, would reduce demand for air travel, which both reduces environmental impact and the impact on residents living near airports. It might also remove the need for an additional runway at Heathrow. In addition to all the above, a new line can be designed from the ground up to be weather-proof. I look forward to the day when, following heavy flooding, snow, etc., the headlines proclaim ‘Trains on the Extra Capacity (EC2) line are running as normal; all road and air travel at a standstill’ (or words to that effect).

Chris Osman, Oxford