THE House of Lords’ economics affairs select committee has finally confirmed what we always suspected: the primary beneficiary of the £50bn High Speed 2 line (HS2) scheme will be London (Echo Business, Mar 25).

This expensive scheme will do nothing for the North-East, as shown by the fact that the station in Leeds will be a terminus at right angles to the current lines, so HS2 trains will have to go south before they come north to Darlington and Newcastle.

Rail needs investment, but HS2 is not the right proposal.

John Tait, North-East Party Parliamentary candidate for Stockton North, Thorpe Thewles.