HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

And a strongly worded rebuttal of those words from Paul Bigland:

https://paulbigland.blog/2022/11/15/simon-jenkins-hs2-and-the-tunnel-that-never-was/

Blimey he really doesn't like Simon Jenkins does he?

I get the rebuttal of the tunnel story , but he seems to fight rather shy of addressing the overarching theme & substance of the article?

[Sixty3Closure]

Last story I can find online about NHS Trusts using Windows XP is from 2019. There are however a couple of stories from early 2022 mention Trusts still using Windows 7. Most Trusts are now on at least Windows 10.

I was on some calls with Microsoft about Exchange 2010 earlier this year but Windows 7 and XP came up and a lot of the NHS IT people on the call said they still had XP in many areas. Often as standalone machines but the point I wanted to make is that what often seems money wasted on admin isn't always. Win 7 enhanced support is doubling per machine each year and that's going to get pricey for the NHS without some investment.

[Electric train]

And a strongly worded rebuttal of those words from Paul Bigland:

https://paulbigland.blog/2022/11/15/simon-jenkins-hs2-and-the-tunnel-that-never-was/

Blimey he really doesn't like Simon Jenkins does he?

I get the rebuttal of the tunnel story , but he seems to fight rather shy of addressing the overarching theme & substance of the article?

That's because the Simon Jenkins article lacks substance, and the use of a false argument highlighted by Paul Bigland make the Guardian article lack credibility

[TonyK]

This viaduct should be easy enough to dismantle. It's only held together with some poxy resin.

https://youtu.be/ohip-tBu_TU

[CyclingSid]

And whilst I don't want to stray into politics its a bit too easy to say cut admin/pen pushers etc. There's probably an argument for more investment in things like IT systems which have been neglected to avoid headlines about buying PCs rather than nurses. Many trusts are still on Window XP and have antiquated systems that will add a significant overhead to costs and efficiencies.

It used to be that one of the civil service departments running the oldest version of Windows was the DVLA^▸ (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency), it was ancient even by the NHS systems I work with.

_{Edit: Fix quotes (Red Squirrel)}

[Red Squirrel]

According to the Evening Standard:

Chancellor says no cuts to capital budgets

Jeremy Hunt tells the Commons that there will be no cuts to capital budgets to invest in infrastructure in the next two years. They will be then maintained for the following three years.

“This means that although we are not growing our capital budget as planned, it will still increase from £63bn four years ago to £114bn next year and £115bn the year after – and remain at that level, more than double what it was under the last Labour government,” he says.

Among the key infrastructure pledges are:

- Core Northern Powerhouse Rail, HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) to Manchester and East West Rail.

- He says the Government will continue with the new hospitals programme and gigabit broadband rollout pledged under Boris Johnson.

- Further devolution, with deals to bring mayors to Suffolk, Norfolk and Cornwall

[Noggin]

The suggestion I've seen is that rail delivery is "reset" back to what was proposed in the Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands & North, which is a pretty impressive shopping list of projects if it all gets built, though the timelines are not exactly ambitious, for example Midland Mainline electrification being complete abound 2030.

[Electric train]

The suggestion I've seen is that rail delivery is "reset" back to what was proposed in the Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands & North, which is a pretty impressive shopping list of projects if it all gets built, though the timelines are not exactly ambitious, for example Midland Mainline electrification being complete abound 2030.

The comments I've heard from senior leaders in the Rail Industry the current Government (at least at the time of writing this post  ) are committed to rail and rail electrification as it fits in with the 'green and sustainable' agenda.

My personal belief is that big ticket items will continue however existing infrastructure will be sweated ie not be renewed

[TonyK]

The comments I've heard from senior leaders in the Rail Industry the current Government (at least at the time of writing this post  ) are committed to rail and rail electrification as it fits in with the 'green and sustainable' agenda.

My personal belief is that big ticket items will continue however existing infrastructure will be sweated ie not be renewed

Some of it is perspiring pretty heavily already, but the commitment to electrification is sensible and welcome. It costs money, but will ultimately save it, as well as being more environmentally friendly. Previous postponements on cost grounds mean that the price now will be a lot higher, although I hope the equipment will be more advanced and better than some of the earlier kit.

[broadgage]

I do not expect that works already under way will be abandoned or left unfinished, so London to Birmingham will be built. North of Birmingham I expect to be not actually cancelled but to be endlessly deferred.

If we are serious about the climate emergency, then the extra capacity for both passengers and freight will be needed in order to reduce flying and driving. North of Birmingham then existing routes should suffice.

[Bob_Blakey]

...North of Birmingham I expect to be not actually cancelled but to be endlessly deferred. ...

Mr Hunt announced yesterday, without qualification, that HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) will be built to Manchester. I take that to mean built to Manchester without additional delay. Naive? Very possibly but it would make my choice of which party to vote for much easier.

[Electric train]

...North of Birmingham I expect to be not actually cancelled but to be endlessly deferred. ...

Mr Hunt announced yesterday, without qualification, that HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) will be built to Manchester. I take that to mean built to Manchester without additional delay. Naive? Very possibly but it would make my choice of which party to vote for much easier.

Also expect as part of the CP7 NR^» (Network Rail - home page) determination hopefully good news on the re-signalling of the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) North of Crewe to take advantage of HS2 for services to Scotland

[TonyK]

Also expect as part of the CP7 NR^» (Network Rail - home page) determination hopefully good news on the re-signalling of the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) North of Crewe to take advantage of HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) for services to Scotland

Will that need reinstatement of the Golbourne link, or is there a Plan B?

[Electric train]

Also expect as part of the CP7 NR^» (Network Rail - home page) determination hopefully good news on the re-signalling of the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) North of Crewe to take advantage of HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) for services to Scotland

Will that need reinstatement of the Golbourne link, or is there a Plan B?

The re-signalling of the WCML will be needed (installed in the late 1960's / early 1970's) irrespective of how HS2 links to the WCML for the Scottish services

[stuving]

HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) have put out some new pictures of Euston Station. There are four linked from this page, plus two older ones (which may still be valid, I guess). The geography is a bit confusing. Coburg Street and Drummond Street run along the sides of the site, but only the Coburg Street view shows the station like this on its right side. The Drummond Street view is out of the untouched part, and across Coburg Street. The southern view is up Melton Street, and the northern view also from a a distance across a square that's still a building site.