Joined-up thinking on HS2 and Stoke

Your article raises many questions about HS2 (High speed rail line may cut costs by running slower trains, 14 January).Slower trains will reduce energy costs, but a bigger fleet will increase capital costs partly offset by lower construction costs from tighter curves and steeper hills.Presently the Virgin Birmingham service takes 16 minutes longer than the new slower HS2 service but only provides three trains an hour, which stop at intermediate stations like Birmingham International and Coventry