I don't see how HS2 could "free up capacity"? It seems that all it would do is to move passengers to another "line", a very expensive line anyway. Like I said already, no sooner has a HS train got up to full speed and it's time to slow down again. HS2 will be a massively expensive White Elephant construction project which will run massively over budget, that is, if it ever gets built.

Why on earth do people want to regularly travel long distances? Why don't they obtain work closer to home? If it's less money, well, it's also less travelling time and less cost?

Rather than encouraging travel, I think unnecessary travel should be discouraged.