ALTERNATIVES TO HIGH SPEED 2 (No. 2)

That this House believes there are sensible alternatives to High Speed 2 which would provide greatly improved railway services between Scotland and England and would have considerable advantages over High Speed 2 at a fraction of the projected High Speed 2 costs; suggests that practical modifications to the East Coast Main Line could provide for fast non-stop passenger services between London and Edinburgh in the same journey time as that claimed for High Speed 2; notes that this was demonstrated in a test run from King's Cross to Edinburgh, with a two minute stop at Newcastle, in 1990; further suggests that additional practical improvements to the West Coast Main Line would provide for faster and more frequent passenger services between Glasgow and London; and urges the UK and Scottish Governments to consider the next steps in making these rail investments in the near future.