The way I see it, upgrading the track would involve closing the existing track while it is lifted up. That would put it out of action for years. Yes, it's the first stage, but the project has to start somewhere. Also 5 hours isn't reall competative with the 1 hour plane journey (it's over 6 hours from edinburgh on a Sunday)
The rest of Europe has high speed trains, we don't and we invented the blimming things.
I'd much rather see a train line plough through the countryside than yet another traffic choked motorway.
But hey Emmie, if we all agreed on everything, what would we argue about?