Discussion
The capacity that HS2 will free up on the old lines, will allow for ETRMS to be fitted on the EC/WCML eventually, which will be a circa 50% increase in line capacity, as well as increase in freight using these lines.
The reason it will cost a fortune is because the signalling will be top class, and the track will be on will be on slabtrack, using a relatively new method (In the UK) where the initial cost is higher, but maintenance of the track is a lot less over the years, where as ballasted track has to replaced every 30 years or so, it's 80 for slabtrack, with no chance of 'wet beds' or cracked sleepers, and no requirement for tamping.
It does cost a fortune, but it will transform rail travel in this country, granted it will be years in the future, but when have we had a Government that invests in anything longer than their term in power?
Take electrical power production, all of our nuclear sites are getting on, and there is not long term solution to this, other than grants and subsidies for green power generation. With (until recently) little to no investment in the base load capacity.
I do feel sorry for people who have land/houses in the way of HS2 and I hope they are compensated appropriately.
The reason it will cost a fortune is because the signalling will be top class, and the track will be on will be on slabtrack, using a relatively new method (In the UK) where the initial cost is higher, but maintenance of the track is a lot less over the years, where as ballasted track has to replaced every 30 years or so, it's 80 for slabtrack, with no chance of 'wet beds' or cracked sleepers, and no requirement for tamping.
It does cost a fortune, but it will transform rail travel in this country, granted it will be years in the future, but when have we had a Government that invests in anything longer than their term in power?
Take electrical power production, all of our nuclear sites are getting on, and there is not long term solution to this, other than grants and subsidies for green power generation. With (until recently) little to no investment in the base load capacity.
I do feel sorry for people who have land/houses in the way of HS2 and I hope they are compensated appropriately.
It's a shocking waste of money that will benefit no one outside London. We don't need it and it will make little difference to travel times in and out of London - for those that can afford it, anyway. I don't understand how the government claims it will 'create jobs' will work if the jobs are created by the very people paying for the work in the first place.
goldblum said:
It's a shocking waste of money that will benefit no one outside London. We don't need it and it will make little difference to travel times in and out of London - for those that can afford it, anyway. I don't understand how the government claims it will 'create jobs' will work if the jobs are created by the very people paying for the work in the first place.
I guess we'll see in the future.But of course it will create jobs? How will it not? I don't think I fully understand your last sentence. Are you saying how can a government create jobs if its paying for them in the first place?
Well the ownership of the rail will be transferred to Network Rail on completion, NR is a not for profit entity, all of its profits are legally bound to be re-invested into the network. NR makes its money by allowing train/freight operating companies to use there network for a nominal fee.
The majority of job creation, after construction is complete, will be from these companies. They will employ the people, who run/maintain the trains, while NR will employ/contract the people who run/maintain the railway.
There will be lots of jobs created from this.
Silverbullet767 said:
Money should be spent upgrading the countries data infrastructure. Countrywide 5G mobile internet and upgraded fibre optic broadband, remove the need for people to travel to work.
It might come as a shock, but some people do actually need to go places & do things.To quote Boris Johnson, "We can't all just sell each other cappuccino over the internet".
Part of the purpose of HS2 is to relieve overuse of other parts of the rail system, thereby allowing freight to be more competitive & reduce road congestion- this seems to be conveniently ignored by those against it.
And yet PH's fav:
"Boris Johnson accused campaigners opposed to the HS2 high speed rail link on environmental grounds of talking "b
ks" as a rebel amendment aimed at wrecking the controversial bill was defeated in the Commons.
The Mayor said protesters are pretending to care about woodland or wildlife but insisted the real cause of their fury is fears their house prices will be hit.
MPs last night voted 451 to 50 against the rebel amendment as Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin insisted work on the £50bn link from London to the North would start in 2017 as planned.
Earlier, Mr Johnson suggested the Government should buy up the houses of the scheme's opponents for "top dollar", then when the rail link is finished, capitalise on any boost to local economies by selling them off for a profit.
Mr Johnson told Total Politics magazine: "People are in the humiliating position of having to pretend that there's some environmental objection that they have, that the great crested grebe is going to be invaded or whatever.
"What they care about is their house prices. It's tragic we have protest groups talking about 'this ancient woodland' when actually there's no tree in this country that's more than 200 years old...most mature trees die at about the age of my age, the average life expectancy of a tree can't be more than about 60 years. There aren't that many ancient woodlands around is the point I'm trying to make."
"Boris Johnson accused campaigners opposed to the HS2 high speed rail link on environmental grounds of talking "b
ks" as a rebel amendment aimed at wrecking the controversial bill was defeated in the Commons.The Mayor said protesters are pretending to care about woodland or wildlife but insisted the real cause of their fury is fears their house prices will be hit.
MPs last night voted 451 to 50 against the rebel amendment as Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin insisted work on the £50bn link from London to the North would start in 2017 as planned.
Earlier, Mr Johnson suggested the Government should buy up the houses of the scheme's opponents for "top dollar", then when the rail link is finished, capitalise on any boost to local economies by selling them off for a profit.
Mr Johnson told Total Politics magazine: "People are in the humiliating position of having to pretend that there's some environmental objection that they have, that the great crested grebe is going to be invaded or whatever.
"What they care about is their house prices. It's tragic we have protest groups talking about 'this ancient woodland' when actually there's no tree in this country that's more than 200 years old...most mature trees die at about the age of my age, the average life expectancy of a tree can't be more than about 60 years. There aren't that many ancient woodlands around is the point I'm trying to make."
Fittster said:
And yet PH's fav:
Mr Johnson told Total Politics magazine: "People are in the humiliating position of having to pretend that there's some environmental objection that they have, that the great crested grebe is going to be invaded or whatever.
"What they care about is their house prices. It's tragic we have protest groups talking about 'this ancient woodland' when actually there's no tree in this country that's more than 200 years old...most mature trees die at about the age of my age, the average life expectancy of a tree can't be more than about 60 years. There aren't that many ancient woodlands around is the point I'm trying to make."
Obviously no London residents are interested in house prices at all.....Mr Johnson told Total Politics magazine: "People are in the humiliating position of having to pretend that there's some environmental objection that they have, that the great crested grebe is going to be invaded or whatever.
"What they care about is their house prices. It's tragic we have protest groups talking about 'this ancient woodland' when actually there's no tree in this country that's more than 200 years old...most mature trees die at about the age of my age, the average life expectancy of a tree can't be more than about 60 years. There aren't that many ancient woodlands around is the point I'm trying to make."
Fittster said:
Do those who think HS2 is a waste of money think the same about crossrail?
Or the motorway network when that was built?Steampistonheads in 1960 said:
Why are they building a high speed road between London and Bristol? There already is a road between London and Bristol called the A4. It is a politicians vanity project. No-one will ever use it. With the advances in telephone technology I can now occasionally manage to speak to someone on the phone and if not I can always write them a letter. Nobody needs to travel these days. It is a waste of money. It will only benefit Londoners. Who needs to get to Bristol in less than 3 hours?
Ross1988 said:
The capacity that HS2 will free up on the old lines, will allow for ETRMS to be fitted on the EC/WCML eventually, which will be a circa 50% increase in line capacity, as well as increase in freight using these lines.
The reason it will cost a fortune is because the signalling will be top class, and the track will be on will be on slabtrack, using a relatively new method (In the UK) where the initial cost is higher, but maintenance of the track is a lot less over the years, where as ballasted track has to replaced every 30 years or so, it's 80 for slabtrack, with no chance of 'wet beds' or cracked sleepers, and no requirement for tamping.
It does cost a fortune, but it will transform rail travel in this country, granted it will be years in the future, but when have we had a Government that invests in anything longer than their term in power?
Take electrical power production, all of our nuclear sites are getting on, and there is not long term solution to this, other than grants and subsidies for green power generation. With (until recently) little to no investment in the base load capacity.
I do feel sorry for people who have land/houses in the way of HS2 and I hope they are compensated appropriately.
Well said and spot on.The reason it will cost a fortune is because the signalling will be top class, and the track will be on will be on slabtrack, using a relatively new method (In the UK) where the initial cost is higher, but maintenance of the track is a lot less over the years, where as ballasted track has to replaced every 30 years or so, it's 80 for slabtrack, with no chance of 'wet beds' or cracked sleepers, and no requirement for tamping.
It does cost a fortune, but it will transform rail travel in this country, granted it will be years in the future, but when have we had a Government that invests in anything longer than their term in power?
Take electrical power production, all of our nuclear sites are getting on, and there is not long term solution to this, other than grants and subsidies for green power generation. With (until recently) little to no investment in the base load capacity.
I do feel sorry for people who have land/houses in the way of HS2 and I hope they are compensated appropriately.
HS2 is not really for us. It is for the next generation and goes beyond 20 mins quicker to Brum.
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