Letters: 'The government should scrap the new expensive HS2 and spend the money on the North instead'

Originally we were told it would cost £36bn – a tidy sum – it is now expected to be an eye watering £106bn, or more – all to turn Birmingham into a London suburb.

Meanwhile “oop north” we have to make do with infrastructure that is totally inadequate to get us from one side of the Pennines to the other.

Although we now have nice new TransPennine Express trains the time it takes to get from Newcastle to Manchester Airport is still around three hours to cover the near 150 miles.

A magnificent average of 50mph. That is not much different from the days of steam.

If this Government is serious and wants to keep its newly acquired northern seats it should scrap HS2 and instead fund a brand new high speed line from Liverpool via Manchester and Leeds to Newcastle.

D W Lacey, Durham.