Chris Gibb spent 45 years in high-profile positions across the British railways. He knows what a successful railway operation looks like — and right now he is publicly challenging the plans for High Speed 2 (HS2). 

The issue is not the construction. It does not even impact the High Speed Rail service between London and Birmingham, what most people think HS2 is about. It is the impact of the new HS2 train fleet that continues around Birmingham on the West Coast Main Line to the North. Chris foresees a substantial reduction in capacity from today's fleet travelling up North, at times when more, not less, capacity will be needed. And he tries to do something about it before procurement decisions cement a future capacity shortfall. It is a lesson about long-term planning decisions and their consequences.

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