It Will be Outdated before it’s finished, whenever that is.
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HS2 progress 2020 and beyond
- Thread starter mikejee
- Start date
Below from BBC News today.
In 2011 I was 51 (November) in 2039 I will be 79, and it probably still won’t be finished!
Ineptitude once again has Prevailed.
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Dionysius//88
master brummie
Dionysius//88
master brummie
Dionysius//88
master brummie
It is unfortunately true in estimates by commercial companies for government contracts that estimates are usually low compared to the actual expected cost, usually I believe deliberately so as they think they can always increase it later and the government will pay. This is common in the defence industry. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear that the recent increase in the cost of new frigates is having to be born by the company . This contract was given long after the HS2 contract, but does at least indicate that there is some common sense being driven into the thick heads of government. That said, a considerable proportion of any increase must be inflation over the 3-decade length of incompetence. In addition land land was purchased for the Manchester link at probably inflated prices, much of which cannot be reclaimed as it is unlikely that it can be resold at anything like the purchase price, while "planners", who were presumably employed for that link, always seem to charge their customers many millions of pounds to carry out their work
One point I have just learnt (https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/article...way-signalling-system-that-didnt-exist-89830/) is that the original intention, which presumably consumed a lot of money, was to develop a completely different signalling system for the line to that that existed anywhere, without any work having been done on it previously. I bit like building a railway before actually developed railway engines
Mark Tooze
master brummie
On the train on Wendesday I mananged to get a group of shots of the Aston Signalling Centre which I have stitched together:-
Also - just north of the Signalling centre some old huts have been uncovered by undergrowth clearance:-
Also - just north of the Signalling centre some old huts have been uncovered by undergrowth clearance:-
Great photos
next time you go there it be gone knocked down
same here between Blackpool Preston
they uncovered lineside huts
and even a HG Pillbox
yes they knocked them down
they are not doing any harm
Yes off topic now
but it makes my blood boil
good job you took photos
Mark Tooze
master brummie
It was a voyage of discovery on Wendesday - also photographed what I think is the remains of an old signal just to the south of Five Ways station:-
Heartland
master brummie
Getting Back to HS2
The Bellingham Viaduct will move into place this weekend over the line to Duddeston
The extent of the work has various projects proceeding rapidly like Curzon Street where the changes are seen daily. Others are proceeding less fast.
I have wondered often why the company chose contractors who use road vehicles in preference to rail. In the past the railway contractor would work along the railway corridor, with those using road vehicles, the capacity for moving spoil in a vehicle is less than a train load of waggons and the space required for the temporary roads is far greater than a railway contractor would use. It takes time to build these roads and more time to remove them. All along the route are extensive plant depots and such infrastructure has led to the delay and cost. In times gone by the railways were built quicker and that skill seems to have been lost!
Building and designing the new Washwood Heath Depot has taken time through the interpretations made through the conditions of the ground through industrial use as those making these decisions had no idea of what went on there. At Saltley matters were different as the products of the carbonisation process were seriously dangerous, but Washwood Heath was a car maker and a train maker. However on part of that site, away from the main work there was an area of concern. Parts at a distance from the railway but on ground belonging to the car works was a munitions factory.
The Bellingham Viaduct will move into place this weekend over the line to Duddeston
The extent of the work has various projects proceeding rapidly like Curzon Street where the changes are seen daily. Others are proceeding less fast.
I have wondered often why the company chose contractors who use road vehicles in preference to rail. In the past the railway contractor would work along the railway corridor, with those using road vehicles, the capacity for moving spoil in a vehicle is less than a train load of waggons and the space required for the temporary roads is far greater than a railway contractor would use. It takes time to build these roads and more time to remove them. All along the route are extensive plant depots and such infrastructure has led to the delay and cost. In times gone by the railways were built quicker and that skill seems to have been lost!
Building and designing the new Washwood Heath Depot has taken time through the interpretations made through the conditions of the ground through industrial use as those making these decisions had no idea of what went on there. At Saltley matters were different as the products of the carbonisation process were seriously dangerous, but Washwood Heath was a car maker and a train maker. However on part of that site, away from the main work there was an area of concern. Parts at a distance from the railway but on ground belonging to the car works was a munitions factory.