[zfreeman]

If it was always the plan to extend CTRL beyond London then why on earth build a stub-terminals such as Waterloo and St Pancras if only a certain amount of trains are gonna stop there when it makes more sense for Stratford International to be a through station.

OK keep a central London Terminus but why bother spendin millions on it?? When possible one in three journeys won't be stopping there.

I'm all for extending northwards but first we need a cohesive HighSpeed system (or a least a planned routes) that would be accesible to the UK's major cities.
My suggestion is make Stratford the main through station
then a stub line into St Pancras. With route 1 Cardiff - Bristol to Birmingham to Straford
Route 2 Glasgow -Lancaster -Manchester -Birmingham to London
Route 3 Edinburgh Newcastle York Leeds Sheffield following ECML to Stratford

 

[zfreeman]

Why argue over the intricacies of each type of system?

Yes . Cost is an issue. But the overriding fact is that a high speed system is required in the UK and the government should stop diggind in their heels and allow something to go ahead even if it is only a route to Birminghame to start with......

Preferably would like to see a 'big bang' approach but that'll never happen, if they won't allow it for the Metrolink in Manchester.