The billions of pounds worth of investment posited to help build a new high-speed rail line in the UK might be better spent in other transport areas, a new report suggests.
According to the RAC Foundation, politicians have not yet done enough to assess whether the potential £27 billion upgrade would be worth the money.
Despite claims by many that a high-speed link between London and the north of England and Scotland would help tackle climate change, it said the environmental benefits could be "very modest".
A report commissioned by the group estimated the total bill for the project at £17 billion to £27 billion, but questioned whether the move would significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "There are big questions to be asked about whether billions of pounds lavished on high-speed rail would be money well spent, or whether it should be directed towards other types of transport project."
His comments come after the British Chambers of Commerce this week urged ministers not to cut spending on roads, railways and other infrastructure developments in the UK as they seek to reduce the country's national debt.
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