HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion

[whole diary]

[eXPassenger]

"HS2 Chairman, sir Terry Morgan, expects to be sacked"

According to BBC news website, and presumably other media also. Little information as to why he expects this. He has only been chairman for a few months.

The story in The Guardian yesterday implied that he had been brought in as a safe pair of hands to prevent cost overruns because he had done such a good job delivering Crossrail on time and budget.  This view is now being re-considered.

[TonyK]

"HS2 Chairman, sir Terry Morgan, expects to be sacked"

According to BBC news website, and presumably other media also. Little information as to why he expects this. He has only been chairman for a few months.

The story in The Guardian yesterday implied that he had been brought in as a safe pair of hands to prevent cost overruns because he had done such a good job delivering Crossrail on time and budget.  This view is now being re-considered.

A bit like the football manager hearing that he has the full support of the Chairman.

[Lee]

Brexit uncertainty could derail HS2, says government think tank - https://www.building.co.uk/news/brexit-uncertainty-could-derail-hs2-says-government-think-tank-/5097464.article

HS2 has wrong name and inadequate budget, says former chairman - http://railnews.mobi/news/2019/01/23-hs2-has-wrong-name-and.html

MP backs call for public inquiry into treatment of Doncaster HS2 communities - https://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/news/mp-backs-call-for-public-inquiry-into-treatment-of-doncaster-hs2-communities-1-9552117

[Lee]

HS2: Party leaders urged to back completion of £55.7bn line - https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/companies/clients/hs2/hs2-party-leaders-urged-to-back-completion-of-557bn-line/10039232.article

Letter - "The real impact of proposed cuts to HS2 rail service" - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/23/the-real-impact-of-proposed-cuts-to-hs2-rail-service

[TaplowGreen]

HS2: Party leaders urged to back completion of £55.7bn line - https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/companies/clients/hs2/hs2-party-leaders-urged-to-back-completion-of-557bn-line/10039232.article

Make that the (best guess) £104 billion line
 
https://www.ft.com/content/a439af14-1e73-11e9-b2f7-97e4dbd3580d

[Lee]

Transport secretary reaffirms government’s commitment to HS2 - https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/transport-secretary-reaffirms-governments-commitment-to-hs2

Captain Matthew Flinders's remains found in HS2 dig as archaeologists discover Australia explorer's grave - https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/captain-matthew-flinderss-remains-found-15729876

[TonyK]

Transport secretary reaffirms government’s commitment to HS2 - https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/transport-secretary-reaffirms-governments-commitment-to-hs2

Captain Matthew Flinders's remains found in HS2 dig as archaeologists discover Australia explorer's grave - https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/captain-matthew-flinderss-remains-found-15729876

Along with another 60,000 skellingtons.Thatsa big cupboard full.

[martyjon]

Just heard trailer for tonights Radio 4 news and current affairs programme. Item to be included, controversial comments over the future viability of the project, programme commences at 10pm, Radio 4.

[TonyK]

Anyone told the people who have been out actually building it yet? Might be a good idea to start in Sunderland, but I don't think the brakes are going to be  put on the project. If they are, it won't be for long, just until we can persuade the Chinese to finance it.

[stuving]

Following the publication of the pictures of Old Oak Common station, HS2 have announced the contractors chosen (subject to further haggling) for that and for Euston:

HS2 Ltd, the company responsible for building the new line, intends to appoint the following joint ventures:

    Euston: Mace Limited and Dragados S.A.
    Old Oak Common: Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, VINCI Construction UK Ltd, VINCI Construction Grands Projets SAS and SYSTRA Ltd
...
Mace and Dragados have a strong track record of delivering complex and demanding infrastructure projects including Battersea Power Station (phase 2), Mumbai International Airport Terminal Two and work on delivering the Spanish high speed rail network, including the major new Madrid Atocha and Barcelona Sants stations.

In February 2018, HS2, on behalf of the Department for Transport and Network Rail, appointed Lendlease to develop a masterplan for the wider Euston site, which could support up to 14,000 new jobs and almost 4,000 new homes, as well as shops, cafes and public spaces.
...
Balfour Beatty and VINCI have experience of some of the world’s most complex construction projects, including the new Tours-Bordeaux TGV, Thames Tideway tunnel and the London 2012 Aquatics Centre.

[CyclingSid]

Was it VINCI that recently bought Heathrow? Interesting possibilities (or conflict of interest).

[stuving]

Was it VINCI that recently bought Heathrow? Interesting possibilities (or conflict of interest).

No. They run Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris, etc, etc. But not Heathrow - the main shareholder is still Ferrovial.

In any case, would building a station to someone else's design -as part of a joint venture - really offer much scope for chicanery?

[Surrey 455]

Was it VINCI that recently bought Heathrow? Interesting possibilities (or conflict of interest).

Not quite. In December Vinci acquired a majority stake (50.01%) in Gatwick airport.

From The Guardian

France’s Vinci Airports is taking a controlling stake in Gatwick for £2.9bn, a week after the UK’s second-biggest airport was brought to a standstill by a series of drone sightings.