Third runway at Heathrow vs HS2
what is it?
a planned high - speed rail network initially set to link London and the West Midlands with a further phase extending to cities in the North
the aim is to run 18 trains an hour in each direction to and from London at speeds of up to 224 mph
negatives
the project has been subject to delays and rising cost with estimates at the cost being more than £100 billion
the money would be better spent on improving rail capacity elsewhere and that it will blight homes and damage the environment when the route is to be built
the project is due to be completed by 2024 but is already behind schedule
impact on the country's green spaces and countryside
it will effect people's home - houses might have to be demolished
what it is
positives
negatives
positives
encourages people to travel by train rather than car - environmental benefit
HS2 will free up capacity on existing lines enabling more local commuter services and more freight services
investment will provide jobs for those involved in building and running the new HS2
Heathrow's plan for expansion at the airport with a third runaway to the north-west of the existing are supported by Government policy
an enlarged Heathrow would boost UK growth by £150 billion over 60 years and create 60,000 new jobs
At 99% capacity a new runway could provide up to 740,000 flights a year - competing with Paris and Amsterdam
severe health impacts due to air and noise and pollution
will increase aviation emissions by 15% by 2050 - it will be extremely difficult to reduce to meet the legislated target
estimated that 973,000 households will experience increased daytime noise by 2050 after runway is built
estimated to cost at least £14 billion
economic boost
decrease in prices for British passengers