[INFOGRAPHIC] Should we snub the Northern Hub?

Construction on the £600 million Northern Hub rail project began earlier this month, with work getting underway on a new platform at Manchester Airport station.

Eventually, the initiative will span the entire north of England, electrifying lines and apparently providing the necessary infrastructure to allow the UK to “compete in the global race”.

However (and here’s where it gets controversial), should we be asking if there’s any point?
As recent events have shown, the rail network isn’t exactly the most reliable method of transport. Anyone using it to commute or get to meetings over the last few weeks likely to have had their plans impeded by its vulnerabilities.

Transport bosses have said they expect to invest over £1 billion in the north’s railways between now and 2019, but as this infographic from Buzz Conferencing shows, train delays already cost the UK economy the same amount every single year.

With this in mind, maybe it’s time for a change in tack. Instead of over-relying on a system that has consistently let us down, why not try something new? One alternative is to take advantage of free conference calls to conduct meetings over the phone instead of in person. This saves time, money and reduces the risk of anything going wrong.

The same goes for commuters that struggle to get into the office when the weather throws a curveball at them. Remote working has never been easier thanks to advancements in technology and the ability to still participate in office brainstorming sessions by dialling in from home.

Suddenly, it seems like there are plenty of better ways to spend that £600 million, don’t you think?