It is far too early to get excited over the Government’s plans for a £30 billion high-speed rail network.
Of course the prospect of the country eventually being linked up by trains travelling at around 250 miles per hour is attractive.
But we have been promised faster rail travel before and yet we still lag behind many other countries in this regard.
And a quick look at what detail there is shows that work would not start until 2017, and then only on the London-Birmingham section.
The plans for the sections north of the Second City do not seem so solid – and recent economic events have shown us much could happen before work is due to start on them.
The biggest concern for Bradford, though, is how well it would be connected to any new network.
If, as is proposed, it branches out on each side of the Pennines after Birmingham in a Y-shape, the eastern limb would pass through Sheffield and on to Leeds.
With Bradford not part of this direct line, its rail links with Leeds become crucial and there is room for improvement here, not least in its rolling stock.
And what is the likelihood of a faster direct service from Bradford to London using part of the new network?
What yesterday’s announcement by Lord Adonis has done is throw up a whole host of questions. In the coming months and years it is important Bradford gets the right answers.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article