APOLLO

From the above 200m trains are too short on their own. The only dedicated HS2 stations will now be in London and Birmingham. Nowhere else can accommodate two 200m trains together, and the 200m trains are shorter than the 260m Pendolino trains that operate on the WCML. European gauge trains will now not run on HS2. It was originally envisaged that half the trains operating on the full Y network would be dedicated HS2 trains built to European loading gauge. As this will not now happen, platform heights and offsets need to be reconsidered. The trains have a high floor and offered level boarding at HS2’s 1,150mm platform height. With only four HS2 stations, this becomes more problematic. Trains do not tilt. They will be slower than the current Pendolino trains. This was not considered to be an issue when HS2 trains would have eventually saved 50 minutes on the journey between London and Preston. 'Nuff said. Brit15

All is explained here !! Brit15

Anyway, as stated, Back to HS2 Onwards and upwards, or is it Backwards and down. Looking at the Gov info re the Crewe - Manchester section (Phase 2b) a tremendous amount of planning work has gone on, along with land acquisition etc. https://www.gov.uk/transport/hs2-phase-two The whole route plans etc here. Phase 2b (Or not 2b !!!!!!!!!!!!!). Note -- Dated 3 July 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-phase-2b-ses2-and-ap2-es-volume-2-community-area-reports-and-map-books I find these very detailed plans etc particularly interesting. Scroll down to Page 23 on to see what should have been at Piccadilly. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1166907/S22.pdf Is it any wonder we here up North feel 100% dissatisfied, all this money spent, wasted, and if the land etc bought is sold off and the route unprotected, then all is lost, and as far as I am concerned, (well, I'd better not state my thoughts here). Brit15

Some nice old painted but still surviving wall advertisements in this article. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12679741/So-ghost-sign-near-Public-asked-help-build-map-fading-adverts-country-promoting-bicycles-long-dead-trades.html Well worth a look. Brit15

Indeed you are more than likely correct, we are rapidly though approaching Russian standards here. Back to HS2 (and our railway investment in general) and I wonder where we are actually going given the nations future transport needs, budgets, money supply, 2030, 50 etc CO2 targets and deadlines, phasing out of Natural Gas etc (and don't forget on windless days up to 60% of our electricity is generated by Nat Gas - just what will replace that ?). Brit15

Except banking of all kinds. And now even the Banks are going bust. Time to drain the swamp overseas tax havens, £Trillions there, Tax it ALL. Brit15

Is that Boris's son driving ? Looking forward to a wonderful future - Zippadee Doo Dah !!! Brit15

Less the parchment envelopes secretly passed to the Pharaoh's consultants !! Brit15

Brit15

In the local elections this year the need to show ID at the polling stations put all the family off voting, myself also. My father used to say "You HAVE to vote, a lot of people throughout history have suffered and died to give you that right to vote" - and he was correct. But having to show ID and the fact that Labour getting in power here was a foregone conclusion put us all off. So I have acted. I applied for all the family to have a postal vote. No excuse now not to vote, self included. And jjb1970's remark re young people is spot on. We disregard them (the reasonable ones) at our peril. Brit15

There is a new(ish) component in UK (world, pick the country) politics, the ever increasingly powerfull but non elected (by you and me) world organisations like The WEF (World Economic Forum), the Davos elite and what they decide, G7 (G insert no.etc), the money men (IMF, EMF), the worlds interconnected banks, the UN etc etc. These people increasingly run the show. UK (name the country, USA included) politicians, all colours, dance to their tune. A bit of info here. https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/A-Guide-to-Committees-Groups-and-Clubs These co-ordinate and sort out (or create !!) world problems going forward, They have a good chance of introducing / enforcing their views on all. Climate change / Net Zero etc being just one, They may be right or wrong on this thorny subject (or as I think somewhere in between !!). Like it or lump it, energy is life, energy is transport, energy is home comfort, affordable food, goods etc. The era we all, worldwide, have all taken for granted and enjoyed of cheap energy (oil, gas, coal etc) is coming to an end, globally, and quickly with few practical viable alternatives. Electrification (though do able) is expensive and is neither an affordable or abundant energy source for many . Hence the push to 15 minute cities, expensive EV's that few can afford, work from home, you name it. The political solution to transportation now seems to be to demonise travel and downsize or just plain wreck it (i.e. let the rail strikes continue). The onslaught on the motorist increases relentlesly, and is now turning to the rail traveller, We have just seen what is happening to HS2. Then we have the stupidity and greed of a few in senior positions causing worldwide grief and two serious wars going on at the moment, and a few more simmering. It doesn't matter who you vote for in the UK (or US) the problems are many and worldwide. I do not know the answers, perhaps they are not solveable on a world scale. Brit15

Springs Branch with a bit of luck, send em all 'up ere !! We'll need some to run the work in progress (3 men with one spade, and a part time sparkie) Bolton to Wigan NW electrification !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 319's also accepted, (In original or tatty boxes, no bother so long as the pantographs, couplings and bogies are still there, even loose in box as in Hattons speak !!). The refurbed 319's we have are quite OK. Not sure of the bi modes though, they seem to struggle a bit when going up the (soon to be electrified whoopee !!) Miles Platting bank out of Manchester Victoria. But they get there, eventually, screaming, coughing and spluttering out obnoxious, planet warming gasses into the wet, miserable Manchester air !!!! Just a thought. Some very expensive property was compulsory purchased for the Manchester leg in Cheshire etc. If these were not demolished & are to be resold at market value then it does not seem fair to the original owners who have lost out. Eminent Domain at work (You will own nothing and be happy) !!!!!!!!!!!!! Such is the world. Brit15

Let's hope common sense prevails and such properties, land etc is "Landbanked" for the future HS2 build. Though the gov doesn't seem to do common sense anymore. As usual, £££££££££ (The banks - i.e. Greed) will decide, as they will decide everything for us all going forward in our ever increasingly dystopian, Orwellian world. As Orwell wrote, ‘War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength, HS2 is FUBAR !!!! We Wiganers remember George !! Brit15

Ahh - Woodhead (again !!) Brit15

Florence and Cecilia: our Chiltern Tunnel TBMs. ... Dorothy: our Long Itchington Wood Tunnel TBM. ... Sushila and Caroline: our Northolt Tunnel TBMs. ... Lydia: our Atlas Road Logistics Tunnel TBM. ... Mary Ann: our Bromford Tunnel TBM. Who needs the above - Meet the girls - The Northern leg would be up and running by now with these on the job !!! The gang below worked at The Mains Colliery, Bamfurlong where the HS2 Golborne link was to join the WCML. They ate Great Crested Newts at Tea Break !! Brit15

Wot start in the NORTH ? The Clog and Shawl wearers 'up there will want glass in their windows and electricity next !! Brit15

Burning track point heaters - A few flashing LEDs would suffice !! Brit15

Brit15

I agree this is how it should have been done, one leg at a time as and when we can afford it Unfortunately there is talk of selling land bought for the Manchester leg (Golborne link East leg / Leeds also ?). If THAT happens then that's it, London to Birmingham only. We'll be lucky to get Euston & the connection to the WCML just north of Birmingham also. I'm getting thoroughly fed up of all this London Centric thinking / spending, whilst we up here are actually now starting to suffer (service cutbacks as stated above, investment cuts, train strikes, abysmal service you name it). Covid / work from home etc altered everything, in some cases permanently. But we still need the rail (etc) investment if these 2030,35,50 etc (so called) green policies etc are to be enacted over the coming years. Our Gov are just NOT INTERESTED anymore, in anyone or anything except the next vote / 5 years. The lot of them. Brit15

Story here also, mentions The Times investigations etc. (The Times article is behind a paywall). Very disturbing. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12658633/HS2-bosses-covered-ballooning-costs-high-speed-rail-line-telling-staff-lie-bid-billions-flowing-project-Probe-launched-allegations.html Is it ime to halt construction / spending and put it into deep freeze untill we can actually afford it ? Brit15

Brit15

I was a strong supporter of HS2 up to recently. I'm not so sure of it now. I can't really see the point in it now given the above stated cuts to existing services. The standees crushed on TP Expresses between Manchester & Leeds, Manchester and London will not be pleased at knowing HS2 is being funded by cuts to THEIR services. This Government either does not give a damn, are being told what to do by "higher" powers, or just plain stupid. Perhaps a mix of all three. Brit15

Other news today, so much for The Northern Powerhouse - What a farce. TransPennine Express to cut 20 services a day between Leeds and Manchester Passengers warned of fewer services and more crowded trains as rail firm seeks to ‘reset’ its operations https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/19/transpennine-express-cut-services-leeds-manchester-trains-rail Wanna play " Bingo" ? - Read this !! https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/-/media/PDFs/TransPennine-Express-Our-Plan-For-the-Future.pdf Avanti West Coast to cut number of services in December Andy Burnham says news is a ‘kick in the teeth’ when rail operator has just won nine-year contract https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/20/avanti-west-coast-cut-services-december-rail-train Our railways are becoming a sick joke. Brit15

Just found this layout - and a very interesting one it is too. I'll visit your site and take a look. Brit15

Hymek & Gronk at Radstock Radstock North (S & D) station, 29/12/67. Shunter D3185 waits for the crossing gates to be opened so that it can use the new spur onto North Somerset Line with coal from Writhlington Colliery, Hymek D7031 waits in the platform to head down to the site of the track lifting on the former S & D route, 29/12/67. Brit15