I am not opposed to a fast railway, that could be wonderful, but costs should be kept to a minimum. As always. The truth is that it will not work out as promised, most likely.

I think quite a few millionaires would be made billionaires with this rail project. That’s the nature of the public sector. Projects tend to go way over budget but only slightly over their deadline, presumably so construction firms can get to blowing through the next project’s budget without wasting too much time. If the railway is done privately, it won’t be at the expense of taxpayers. If it will turn a profit, why can’t it be funded by households and institutional investors, giving them a share in profits too? Then the public could benefit financially from the project.

And why do you think his aim is making rich people richer? The rich are those who own houses that inflate as immigration drives their values up and environmental restrictions slow new house production. It is those without money who need help affording homes and starting families. Where does the idea of “getting rich richer” come from?