Letter: Why do we need HS2?

I have followed with interest the arguments for the proposed high-speed train service between Birmingham and London.

In Shropshire, we no longer have a direct service, let alone a high-speed service.

Forgive me for being naive but why is a faster service to the capital necessary. The line is going to cost billions of pounds of taxpayers' money to benefit a small proportion of society, and in addition is going to carve up some of the most beautiful parts of the country (apart from Shropshire).

If rail users need to travel to London to arrive there 35 minutes earlier, surely the answer would be to catch an earlier train, or for the first train from Birmingham to leave 35 minutes earlier.

This would facilitate using the billions saved to be spent on more worthwhile projects supporting health, or education.

Dr KG Bailey

Clunbury