Once again we see evidence of the coalition Government arranging policies to benefit themselves.

The once-again extravagant cost of £30bn or more will, it is claimed, result in faster train journeys, more seats and undoubtedly higher fares.

The ordinary public will have to contend with high shrieking noise as the unnecessarily huge electric motors use far more power than we are able to sustainably produce.

In years to come, the whole project will be scrapped, as the running costs and energy used will strip our national grid of domestic power.

And who will benefit – many of the MPs themselves whose seats are situated along the route.

On top of all this, our precious, beautiful countryside will be decimated, just so that a few MPs can travel to and fro, from their home seats to Westminster.

HS2 is not needed and certainly not affordable.

ADRIAN TAYLOR Thames Street Eynsham