[decimalenough]

The UK does not need more cities. In fact, like most of the industrialized world, their second-tier and third-tier cities are suffering since the entire economy and population are both getting inexorably pulled into London. This includes the planned cities ("new towns") that tried and largely failed to do exactly what you suggest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_towns_in_the_United_Kingdo...

[linuxftw]

It's an easy problem to solve if you want to use government levers: Raise the minimum wage inside London. Keep raising it until businesses start moving to other cities.

[Etheryte]

This is a considerably worse solution with unknown knock-on effects, especially when compared to a well understood solution of making a few stations handle more capacity.

[linuxftw]

It's always just a few stations. Driving up the property values of the landlords in the cities. It's a never ending cycle.