HS2 - Government proposals, alternative routes and general discussion

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

There was no one n to announce anything too. But they knew that.

[grahame]

Sorry, no railway content there ...

Too often the Rishi story ...

[TaplowGreen]

Private Eye hits the bullseye as usual! 

[TaplowGreen]

Another excellent (and more serious!) article on the subject from the latest Private Eye..........

[TaplowGreen]

Phase 2 to be scrapped?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hs2-manchester-costs-rishi-sunak-jeremy-hunt-b2411191.html?s=09

[grahame]

Phase 2 to be scrapped?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hs2-manchester-costs-rishi-sunak-jeremy-hunt-b2411191.html?s=09

Very interesting at the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) conference yesterday to hear the top directors at GWR warning us of upcoming disruption as Old Oak Common is built.  They said that in the past where there has been major engineering, they have "sold" it to us as short term pain for long term gain, but in this case they have admitted that any gain to GWR passengers is likely to be very limited indeed.

[Mark A]

They can be reassured that the gain to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) passengers is going to be access to HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) (once enough of HS2 is built to be useful).

During construction of Old Oak Common GWR platforms, if the railway could provide 4 per day Bristol - Waterloo through trains via Salisbury this would help everyone (but particularly people travelling with children or with accessibility needs).

Looking at the decision making on that service just a couple of years ago in 2021, the upcoming disruption at Old Oak Common was yet another factor that was left out of consideration.

Mark

[ChrisB]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) were handing out a leaflet explaining that from 2024 onwards, any works causing a closure of PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) for more than 12 hours will result in GWR looking to divert long-distance services to an alternative London terminus with similar facilities to PAD - that includes the sleeper.

Examples shown are services from PNZ, BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) & SWA^» (Swansea - next trains), with a map showing possible diversions for HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) works at OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)) via Acton Wells junction into EUS, also via Kensington Olympia into WAT.

A quicker & easier route to WAT than your suggestion, Mark A?

[Mark A]

Do we know the time frame for the Old Oak Common GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) platforms construction phase?

On your second point, Chris, I can see it now - the night riviera beneath the roof of the old HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel) terminal at Waterloo. That aside, setting aside recollections of arriving on a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) HST^▸ (High Speed Train) at Marylebone, what percentage of Paddington's long distance services could be accommodated at another London terminus (and are the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) compatible - do i recall an HST service ran to Waterloo for a while to provide connection to for trains to mainland Europe?).

On your third, while it's not a fast route: the value of through Bristol - Bath - Salisbury - Waterloo trains is the network connectivity provided by the likes of Clapham Junction and Waterloo, the value of easier travel between the intermediate towns it serves, comfort and flexible accommmodation giving accessibility benefits when travelling e.g. with children. Lastly, it's somewhat independent of the GWML so it improves the resilience of travel from London. If speed is also an issue, it's worth recalling that Bath to Waterloo via Salisbury originally took 2 hours 10 minutes before those trains were deaccellerated.

Mark

(Edited: typed 'HST ran to Paddington' when I meant 'HST ran to Waterloo')

[ChrisB]

I can't recall which year(s) there were to be an 11 day blockade & a year later (or was it two years?), an 18 day blockade. I *think* 2024 & 2026 or 2025 & 2027. Sorry, the amount of info being thrown at me while GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) wanted bums on seats to listen to the MD was huge, and I can't remember for sure. Nop dates in said leaflet either.

The major benefit of running via Kensington Olympia to WAT is that the stock IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) 9 & 10car trains) can access North Pole depot from there and the trains from BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) will serve their usual route & calling points. EUS is shown as taking only 15mins longer than PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) and WAT is shown as taking 45mins longer.

[TaplowGreen]

This just got a mention on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) 6 o'clock news.....they had asked for a commitment to Phase 2 from No 10 but there was apparently a refusal to provide it.

[infoman]

Stand by for all the media outlets to be at various locations and train stations on friday morning.

[ChrisB]

Not until the Govt state for defininite thst they havecanvelled it. Mainline media don’t tend to ‘do’ uncertainty

[TaplowGreen]

Andy Burnham just interviewed on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Breakfast arguing that HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) should be continued to Manchester.

[TaplowGreen]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Version.......


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66813734