Alex Bell: As HS2 hits a dead end, let’s reroute rail projects up north

The train from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh is probably arriving soon. If not today, then definitely this week. Despite linking east to west and being a vital tourism connection, the train goes slowly.

Possibly there is a man walking in front, waving a flag. Or the driver is meditating. Whatever, it is a little engine that can’t.

I’m being unfair to the staff. The service runs on time and to schedule. They can’t help that the trip takes two hours and 39 minutes to cover 80 miles. At roughly 30 miles an hour, the journey gives you plenty of time to consider the UK’s attitude to infrastructure. It boils down to doing as little as possible and even then, only in the home counties.