HS2 goes ahead

[strang steel]

Yes, and instead of concentrating on yet another line to/from London, they could put a few billion into cross country passenger routes such as Birmingham to Yarmouth, Hastings to Plymouth, Liverpool to Hull.

Possibly even more beneficial to the economy would be to upgrade freight connections from Felixstowe through Peterborough and/or Lincoln to Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.

Anyone who has driven on the A14 in the last few years (where 2 out of every 3 vehicles are HGVs) would realise just how much of the traffic could be diverted onto trains, even if it is simply by just forcing long distance lorries onto trains of flat wagons for a hundred miles or more.

[neilgow]

Am I not right in thinking that a Company, during the early 1990's, proposed to build a fast railway on the trackbed of the GCR and that John Prescott and Claire Short scuppered the proposal when it came to be debated in Parliament?

NG.

[Stirling O]

Earlier in this discussion I made my feeling known on HS2. In spite of all that's been written, my stance is still the same, it's a waste of money.

The money could be much better spent on improving the present railway system and other social and transport projects. One of the arguments frequently trotted out is that it will allow faster journey times. What people seem to forget is that we live in a small country and will saving 10 plus minutes on a London to Birmingham journey really benefit anyone that much? Money spent on essential transport projects would benefit the greater majority. The only people who have been backing this project are the ones who stand to make money out of it, but now, even some of those are beginning to express doubts! I'd like to bet that the project falls by the wayside as more and more of the business and commercial and political fraternity realise the folly of this pipe dream!

[StevieG]

Am I not right in thinking that a Company, during the early 1990's, proposed to build a fast railway on the trackbed of the GCR and that John Prescott and Claire Short scuppered the proposal when it came to be debated in Parliament?

NG.

Wasn't this an idea to have something like a new, north/south corridor; mainly for freight, including to take a lot of it off the WCML to create more passenger paths?

[PinzaC55]

Am I not right in thinking that a Company, during the early 1990's, proposed to build a fast railway on the trackbed of the GCR and that John Prescott and Claire Short scuppered the proposal when it came to be debated in Parliament?

NG.

Yes, see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Railway_(UK) It would have been built using private finance at a cost 3.5 billion less than the Olympics.
Edit* For some reason the link doesn't work but if you search Wikipedia for Central Railway (UK) you will find it.

[1H was 2E]

I remember two aspects of the planned re-opening of the Great Central.


In the Northamptonshire section, the proposals were examined by the county council's 'Transport' executive named Mr Kendrick. He had until shortly before been the county's Highways Engineer. He advised the Council to oppose the proposal primarily because it would disturb a badger's sett at Brackley. Obviously completely unbiased against rail then. Presumably been OK in west Somerset, though.


And a helicopter was chartered (I think about 2000) to follow the route. The route through central Leicester has been destroyed, perhaps understandably; more puzzling was the way that Nottinghamshire County Council has systematically removed every embankment and viaduct and filled in every cutting and tunnel - but then not found a use for any of the land.


Curious how the opposition to new transport links only extends to rail. Here, we did not know the M1 was being built until a scar appeared over the horizon, and the 'consultation' for the A14 began "The need for a road linking the A1 and M1 is self evident" (though they both run from London to Yorkshire) and were given a choice of routes, all of which destroyed the site of the most important battle in the creation of English democracy.

Sorry if I sound cynical.....

[PinzaC55]

I remember two aspects of the planned re-opening of the Great Central.


In the Northamptonshire section, the proposals were examined by the county council's 'Transport' executive named Mr Kendrick. He had until shortly before been the county's Highways Engineer. He advised the Council to oppose the proposal primarily because it would disturb a badger's sett at Brackley. Obviously completely unbiased against rail then. Presumably been OK in west Somerset, though.


And a helicopter was chartered (I think about 2000) to follow the route. The route through central Leicester has been destroyed, perhaps understandably; more puzzling was the way that Nottinghamshire County Council has systematically removed every embankment and viaduct and filled in every cutting and tunnel - but then not found a use for any of the land.


Curious how the opposition to new transport links only extends to rail. Here, we did not know the M1 was being built until a scar appeared over the horizon, and the 'consultation' for the A14 began "The need for a road linking the A1 and M1 is self evident" (though they both run from London to Yorkshire) and were given a choice of routes, all of which destroyed the site of the most important battle in the creation of English democracy.

Sorry if I sound cynical.....

No need to apologise.

An optimist is a cynic who doesn't get out enough.

[Iron Duke]

more puzzling was the way that Nottinghamshire County Council has systematically removed every embankment and viaduct and filled in every cutting and tunnel - but then not found a use for any of the land.

Nottinghamshire County Council have now found a use for the land from the Weekday Cross area and onwards south of the River Trent:- They are currently turning it into a ..... "Tram System"

[Bryan]

Councils in the York area don't seem to care for a bit of history either.

Harolds last battle site before Hastings at Stamford Bridge is gone.
Also the site of the Battle of Fulford is set to be built on.

[Ferrybridge Flyer]

As if the traffic in that part of York isn't bad enough already!!

[strang steel]

more puzzling was the way that Nottinghamshire County Council has systematically removed every embankment and viaduct and filled in every cutting and tunnel - but then not found a use for any of the land.

Nottinghamshire County Council have now found a use for the land from the Weekday Cross area and onwards south of the River Trent:- They are currently turning it into a ..... "Tram System"

Yes, and apparently they are going to build a big girder bridge over the top of Midland station, where once there was a big girder bridge over the top of Midland station which carried the GC.

[Iron Duke]

Yes, and apparently they are going to build a big girder bridge over the top of Midland station, where once there was a big girder bridge over the top of Midland station which carried the GC.

It's already in place (previous & current attached)

ID

[Mickey]

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[sandwhich]

Mickys point about the idea of closing the Midland Main line during the 1980s was real enough, it was to pay for the East Coast electrification! Where these politicians and their civil servants get their ideas from is an enduring mystery.
As regards HS2 which is now one faltering step forward, it really is a wonder that the English managed to come out of caves and are still not wearing blue paint, of course plans have to be looked at in a proper manner but to keep banging heads against brick walls or burying them in quick setting concrete is not the answer.
HS1 came up against the same brick wall but look at well it is doing now, I travel on the javelins at different times of the day including Saturdays and they are always well used. Go to St Pancras at 04 30 and see how many people are there for the first train to Paris. These took time to get going and HS2 will not be any different. Trouble is that with some people (including the media) if they don't see the trains fully occupied on Day 1 then it is deemed a failure.
For the country that gave the world railways we do seem at times to be a little indifferent to them, as said in a previous thread I am sure that this goes back to the Duke of Wellington when he was prime minister during the 1830s and was heard to say that he could not understand the need for these railways as it encourages workmen to leave their place of birth, the spread of car ownership and motorways in the late 1950s and early 60s no doubt had the same effect.

[Mickey]

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