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Post by bancroft on Oct 1, 2023 10:41:09 GMT
The entire project was an EU inspired waste of money. The moment we voted to leave the EU in 2016 HS2 should have been scrapped. It was a vanity project designed to benefit the EU not the UK. I've considered that too, and all the moaners Bojo aside are against it being canned and were also pro Remain. A number here in the past said we needed more train capacity. Yet at $2bn over budget suggests massive corruption. |
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Post by bancroft on Oct 1, 2023 10:43:37 GMT
I think the key issue is should £100 billion be spent on HS2, or more invested in the existing network to bring it closer to continental European standards. Take electrification, for example. Only around a third of UK lines are electrified and even then there's a hodge-podge of legacy systems some dating back to the 20s and 30s, making diesel power necessary for freight travelling from the Channel ports (and Felixstowe) to the North. Only just over a third of UK track is electrified in any form, compared to 55% in France and Germany, 65% in Italy, 70% in Spain and 75-80% in Benelux. The UK is in Division III, along with the Balkan countries and the Baltic republics the latter being still handicapped by Soviet-era infrastructure including Russian-gauge track.
Very poor showing for the country that invented bloody railways.
interesting in South London most seem electric though the odd massive freight train smells of diesel. |
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Post by Fairsociety on Oct 1, 2023 10:44:57 GMT
£100 billion, it's more like a gravy train, you can bet at least £10 billion+ of that money is stuffed brown envelopes, yet again like the NHS tax payers money unregulated. Except they don't use brown envelopes as the populists kicked up a stink about it, now they invent services rendered and it is legitimate. Digital payments. True, forgot about our cashless society. |
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Post by Dan Dare on Oct 1, 2023 11:05:13 GMT
Comparative costs: LGV Sud Europe Atlantique. Section between Tours and Bordeaux 188 km cost £ 7.9 billion (€9.2 billion). Construction started 2012 open for service July 2017. Cost £42 million/km. HS2. 360 km approx (to Manchester). Budget ca £100 billion = £278 million/km. Construction started 2012 planned service date 2040-45.
PS The EU paid €3 billion towards the cost of constructing the LGV SEA.
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Post by Fairsociety on Oct 1, 2023 11:09:12 GMT
Comparative costs: LGV Sud Europe Atlantique. Section between Tours and Bordeaux 188 km cost £ 7.9 billion (€9.2 billion). Construction started 2012 open for service July 2017. Cost £42 million/km. HS2. 360 km approx (to Manchester). Budget ca £100 billion = £278 million/km. Construction started 2012 planned service date 2040-45. 2040-45 .... LOL
Double that £100 Billion
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Post by johnofgwent on Oct 1, 2023 14:12:57 GMT
Plus, he uses free energy, the man is a genius, I am very impressed. That's not sarcasm by the way I really am, only Orac can be accused of such things. Innocent until proven guilty your honour. The last time I was promised free energy the Queen was opening a nuclear power station - still waiting..  ah yes. Electricity too cheap to meter l believe Benn said |
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Post by zanygame on Oct 1, 2023 14:45:30 GMT
The last time I was promised free energy the Queen was opening a nuclear power station - still waiting.. ah yes. Electricity too cheap to meter l believe Benn said Then some idiot said "How do we get rid of all the waste"  |
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Post by johnofgwent on Oct 1, 2023 14:50:47 GMT
Anyway, are we sure it’s going to be scrapped ? Sunak isn’t saying anything.
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Post by zanygame on Oct 1, 2023 15:01:30 GMT
Anyway, are we sure it’s going to be scrapped ? Sunak isn’t saying anything. He's waiting to see if its a popular idea. |
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Post by Handyman on Oct 1, 2023 15:09:07 GMT
Anyway, are we sure it’s going to be scrapped ? Sunak isn’t saying anything. No he has not made any comment at the moment in relation to the speculation about HS2, |
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Post by Dan Dare on Oct 1, 2023 15:13:14 GMT
Well he's going to have to piss or get off the pot next week when he's in Manchester.
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Post by johnofgwent on Oct 1, 2023 15:18:14 GMT
Anyway, are we sure it’s going to be scrapped ? Sunak isn’t saying anything. He's waiting to see if its a popular idea. well labour’s lead has shrivelled …. |
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Post by Fairsociety on Oct 1, 2023 15:22:40 GMT
He's waiting to see if its a popular idea. well labour’s lead has shrivelled …. Starmer is waiting to see what Sunak doesn't say, then he'll say what people want him to say, then he'll say it, then in a few months he'll flip flop again. |
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Post by bancroft on Oct 1, 2023 16:04:28 GMT
Sunak is certainly in a corner, lockdowns damaged the economy as so many in private industry went under.
Ukraine war and then war caused inflation, triple lock pensions and we must are just only meeting interest payments on debt - Government debt was equivalent to 98.8% of GDP at the end of August 2023.
This is why he won't make tax cuts, IMO.
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Post by zanygame on Oct 1, 2023 16:08:50 GMT
Sunak is certainly in a corner, lockdowns damaged the economy as so many in private industry went under. Ukraine war and then war caused inflation, triple lock pensions and we must are just only meeting interest payments on debt - Government debt was equivalent to 98.8% of GDP at the end of August 2023. This is why he won't make tax cuts, IMO. Tax cuts at the moment would be fiscally insane. |
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