If HS2 was scrapped tomorrow (I wish) about £6bn has already been wasted spent out of the £56bn original cost, leaving about £50bn that could be spent on other much more beneficial, much more cost effective alternatives, but what?
Fortunately, the TPA organised "The Great British Transport Competition" which resulted in 28 projects being selected & are in their report below. Have a read & I would be interested in your comments. Many of the rail projects include reintroducing passenger services back on to freight only lines and the revival of disused or partially disused railway lines which reduce further the justification for HS2 which is now unlikely to be completed until the 2030s at a cost (allowing for delays & further price increases) of £90-£100+bn.
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/taxpayersalliance/pages/16562/attachments/original/1558213640/GBTC_REPORT_FINAL_REVIEWED_18MAY2019.pdf?1558213640
Now that is something I have been saying since the 1980's, on the back of the fine efforts made by the Railway Preservation sector. So many lines shut by Beeching, although unprofitable then, could now be so beneficial as whole communities have grown up along those old track beds. Some, however, have no use now and should not be re-opened, but many others should be for good commercial, social, and environmental reasons in the 21st century.
The list of these is a long one, which I am not going to foolishly quote as without facts about the viability and practicality of each it is a pointless exercise. Local lines generally to ease congestion across the areas now growing in population is an obvious factor, especially here in the South. But, the old main lines like the Sommerset & Dorset from Bournemouth up to Bath, along with the old Great Central main line from London, via Rugby, then to Nottingham and Sheffield, onto Manchester, come to mind. In the case of the latter, if HS2 etc does not go ahead you have the opportunity to open up the centre of the country once more to a fast line with the much needed additional capacity that is needed from London to Nottingham onto Sheffield, with Manchester at the top.
Some large sections of that lines track bed and general infrastructure still exists, with two separate parts occupied by Steam Railway Preservation groups running trains. These lines should be used to increase freight traffic away from the roads, as well as providing passenger movement between towns and cities, with surrounding communities, much enlarged since the 1960's.
But all this would, yet again, open up challenges by NIMBY groups, with the challenges immense as many parts of the old infrastructure have gone,with buildings now occupying the sites, so costs would be very large indeed. Then you have the objections from TB and the anti-rail lobby, so all this may be no more of a runner than HS2!!
Pity, a great pity!