Boris Johnson’s dreams of building a bridge connecting Northern Ireland to Scotland are not dead, says an expert.
Sir Peter Hendy, Chairman of Network Rail said that a link between Ulster & Britain may be possible when driverless cars are introduced.
Mr Johnson’s support for what was branded the ‘stupidest bridge in history’ was criticised after Sir John’s review in November warned that the full route across the Irish Sea could cost as much as £335billion for a bridge crossing and £209billion for a tunnel.
Addressing MPs today however, Sir Peter stated that the PM’s request for such a link to be investigated was “reasonable” and that future technology might allow it.
Pete Wishart, the chairman of Scottish National Party invited him to speak in front the Scottish Affairs Committee. He wanted to critique the proposal as ‘quite honestly ridicule’.
It was recently revealed that two feasibility reports had cost the taxpayer almost £1million.
Sir Peter responded, “I’ve written the truth of what it is that I think.” It’s possible to do it, it is not in excess of modern technology, it’s probably near the edge of modern technology.
You’ll see that it was said out for review in the near future. One of the problems surrounding the tunnel or bridge is the fact that their approach gradients are restricted by current technology.
“That could change with autonomous cars and should be reviewed at one stage. The possibility that such a connection might be made is plausible, according to me.
Sir Peter Hendy, Chairman of Network Rail said that a link between Ulster & Britain may be possible when driverless cars are introduced.
He was asked by Pete Wishart, chairman of Scottish National Party to appear before the Scottish Affairs Committee and criticize the “quite honestly absurd proposal”.
The proposed bridge or tunnel would have potentially run between Portpatrick in Scotland and Larne in County Antrim
The review concluded that said the the full route could be as much as £335billion for a bridge crossing and £209billion for a tunnel crossing – many times higher than the figures that had previously been mooted
“There are no tunnels as long in other parts of the globe that run to the same length as the one under the channel. People will probably recall or remember, that this tunnel was mocked 30 years before it was completed.
“So, I thought it was reasonable to ask. My conclusion is factual. It is possible but it costs too much money and takes so long that they aren’t credible right now. This situation may change if the future technological advances are made.
“The scheme was enthusiastically supported by Prime Minister, who insisted it could strengthen the Union following the recent divisions created by Brexit and the Scottish independence referendums.
Conservative MPs laughed that trains could be pulled by unicorns. It could also require the clearing of an enormous undersea weapons dump, as critics have pointed out.
The figures cited for the cost are many times higher than those originally mooted, with Treasury officials estimating a price tag of tens – not hundreds – of billions. Sir Peter’s £335billion price tag is also twice the annual budget of the NHS, and more than three times the £100billion cost of the controversial HS2 rail-link estimated by an independent review.
Sir Peter made a discrediting assessment on the project in November.
He warned, however that it would be difficult to justifiy the end price given the government’s commitment to transport infrastructure improvements for levelling up in the long term.
‘The benefits could not possibly outweigh the costs to the public purse,’ Sir Peter added.