THE Administration has clearly shown where its interests lie with HS2.

It became clear when Trenitalia, a partnership 70 per cent owned by First Group and 30 per cent by Trenitalia, ultimately owned by the Italian state, was awarded the West Coast Main Line (WCML) franchise and HS2, that the Western leg to Crewe and Manchester serving the WCML would be preferred to the Eastern leg to Sheffield, Leeds and on to the East Coast Main Line (ECML).

This preference has been given effect by requesting (ordering?) HS2 Ltd to concentrate resources on the Western leg, presumably on the grounds that a cash strapped UK could not afford both.

From the Administration’s viewpoint this would have two results. First it would avoid any complaint against Trenitalia of conflict of interest. Secondly as the ECML is operated by a company of last resort appointed by the Administration and thought to be an example of nationalisation, anathema to the Administration, that company, although entirely British owned, would not be benefitted. Alas poor Brexit.

S Friedman

By email