[ENIanDEM]

> HSR was never about commuting, capacity is too low

It initially doubles capacity and ultimately triples it https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/... (figure 4.2, p76)

What would "proper connection to Europe" have looked like to you? HS2 ends in London where eurostar begins. If HS2 terminated in say, Milton Keynes, I'd wholeheartedly agree with you.

> Linking it to a program of speed improvements on connecting commuter rail would have been a cheaper vote winner

Do you have any evidence for this? Any publicly available report showing even outline calculations? HS2 has always had cross party support.

> before covid19 made public transit irrelevant

In one way or another, the threat of covid will eventually pass. We'll still need public transport when it does.