On the Oxford Mail front page on May 6 you asked: ‘So what do we do with the A34’?

One very simple thing that would make a very big difference would be instead of wasting £30bn on HS2, spend the money on the railways heading north from Southampton and Portsmouth.

If the railway was able to operate safely, on time and with sensible prices, most of the HGVs travelling along the A34 heading north for the Midlands and beyond could be replaced by train.

There is no need for trains travelling at 200mph only carrying those wealthy enough or with a big enough expense account to be able to afford to use it, and they would still have to get to either London or Birmingham to get on board, because it will not stop between. All those people most adversely affected by the building of HS2 get no benefit whatsoever!

If HS2 is ever built, you can guarantee it will end up costing far more than £30bn and on past performances it would never make a profit, let alone repay the building costs.

HS2 is only a PR stunt by politicians trying to impress the world and reserve their place in the history books. Why bother, they will always be remembered in history for bringing the country to its knees?

KEITH BROOKS, Gateley, Horspath