Ron Ron Ron

1 hour ago, Arun Sharma said:

Looking at the supplied map, it looks like it is actually on the line of E-W Railway rather than HS2. It is well to the East of HS2's maintenance depot.

While I like bats [especially as I have had numerous dollops of Rabies vaccine in the past] I am not sure that this is the best use of taxpayers' money........... 

I thought that at first glance, but quickly noticed the map is turned on its side.

North is on the left, south on the right.

There are obvious clues from the locations marked on the map, such as the Greatmoor Energy from Waste plant, just to the south of Calvert and the relative positions of Quainton and Calvert villages. 
 

.

If you think that most of the "Green Tunnels" on Phase 1, are an unnecessary overspend and waste of literally, billions of ££££'s; then are you aware of the mega expensive "Bat Tunnel", that will be built over HS2 at Calvert ?

Yes, you heard it correctly !

A Bat Tunnel.....and it has nothing to do with Bruce Wayne.

Check the date !  This isn't the 1st of April either.

Rather than being underground, or buried, the Sheephouse Wood Bat Protection Structure is above surface........

Details here.....

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Sheephouse-Wood-Bat-Protection-Structure-You-said-We-did-Information-Boards-March-2023.pdf

.

For those of you, who'd rather we had some more actual HS2 construction news...........

This weekend (just gone), the M42 was closed again, near the NEC, to allow demolition of the 2nd concrete bridge that previously carried the A452 over the motorway.

(n.b. That was the roundabout over the motorway, that looked like a motorway junction, but without any slip roads or connection to the motorway itself.)

With both bridges now removed, work can start on constructing the box bridge structure that will carry HS2 over the M42 at this location.

Click here for the story......   HS2 Ltd News Media story and details

Looking North.......

.

5 hours ago, Jeff Smith said:

I think based in the Philippines, used to be a Continental operation?

Not the Philippines, but based in Guam, Micronesia. (a US overseas territory).

From Guam, United 737's fly to a few Japanese destinations (Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka), as well as Manila in the Philippines, Saipan (Mariana Islands), Micronesian islands of Colonia and Palau, .....plus the 15 hour long island hopping service (Five intermediate stops on the way), right across the central Pacific, to Honolulu.

It was a long standing Continental Airlines operation, dating back to the 1960's if I'm not mistaken, and continues following the merger of Continental into United.

.

1 minute ago, corneliuslundie said:

….Of course at Curzon Street it would only take a short connecting link to access it via the various yards south of the new station, but levels may again be a problem…..

 

Impossible.

HS2 will be high up on viaducts.

There can be no link to any other rail infrastructure, between Curzon St. and Washwood Heath, without major civil engineering to completely redesign viaducts which are already under construction.

.

9 hours ago, adb968008 said:

…….i’m not even convinced DBS will still be a german owned business in the Uk by the time this works starts…..

 

Putting on the pedant hat for a moment…..While it’s reported that DB Group is looking at a sale of DBS, do note that DB Cargo (UK) hasn’t been part of that subsidiary for 8 years.

However, I take your point. 

DBC (UK) is likely to be sold off at some point.

Parent DB Group are in need of funds to cover their huge losses and to help finance urgently needed infrastructure work.

.

Chilterns Tunnels...

A report elsewhere (Paul Clifton - BBC transport correspondent) says that Florence was due to break through today.

However, the "ceremony" due to be held with the Rail Minister present, was cancelled.

Presumably re-scheduled for early next week?

.

2 hours ago, C126 said:

Having had chance now to skim my ref.

 

https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/why-saudi-arabias-the-line-is-not-a-revolution-in-urban-living/

 

... the article makes quite clear 'The Line' is certainly NOT "the forerunner test for all future cities".  For a start, it says they are quite inefficient for commuters and circular cities are better.  This design appears quite hopeless (and certainly not a '15-min. city').

 

 

The article is the same ones syndicated to several publications, derived from a report by a couple of researchers from Vienna, Rafael Prieto-Curiel and Daniel Kondor.

There are some terrible mistakes and errors in the article.

The Line is planned to be 170km (105 miles) long.

The article suggests that making it a circle would result in a radius of 3.3km, i.e. 6.6km from one side to the other, making the maximum distance between any two points far less than on a 170km line.

However, if a 170km line was turned into a circle, it would have a radius of  27km. i.e. 54km (33.5 miles) from one side to the other.

Kind of blows their argument out of the water.

They also state the proposed high speed rail line serving the length of the Line, would need 86 stations, hence preventing the HS trains reaching any sort of high speeds and slowing down connectivity.

However, a tiny bit of research would show that the HS rail proposal is for just 4 intermediate stations between termini.

These would be connected to a network of local transport systems.

.

29 minutes ago, APOLLO said:

 

EV depreciation, insurance and eventual battery replacement costs are rising issues, as is range and charging anxiety.

 

Average ICE lifetime has risen from 11 to 12 years, only just over 10 years ago, to around 16 years today.

Average mileage at scrapping has gone up from 110,000 to 130,000, although well maintained, modern ICE cars could last for over 200,000 miles, but they mostly won't because of the lack of spare parts over time and economic viability.

EV batteries (discounting early primitive types) are expected to last for between 200,000 and 500,000 miles.

When will you need to replace the battery?

Range?

The average daily car mileage in the UK is under 20 miles (140 miles per week or just under 7,000 miles per year).

The average annual company car usage (using the car for business) is under 14,000 miles (= approx. 270 miles per week).

Less than 5% of cars do more than 15,000 miles a year.

.

1 hour ago, APOLLO said:

We won't need motorways soon as only unaffordable (for the majority) EV's become the mandated norm......

 

4 to 4.5 times as many used cars are sold each year, compared with brand new.

That indicates that "the majority" can't afford (or are not prepared to pay for) new ICE powered cars either.

As EV's filter through onto the used market in increasing numbers (as they are already starting to do), they will easily be affordable to anyone contemplating buying a similar used ICE powered vehicle.

Early heavy depreciation in a fledgling and uncertain market, means you can currently (no pun intended)  pick up, almost new, low mileage EV's for bargain prices and benefit from lower running costs, making them "more affordable" in the long run.

Back to Choo Choo trains..........

.

4 minutes ago, fezza said:

I'm always amazed by how much electrification Italy and Germany did after the war - the defeated powers ended up with much more modern railways by the 1970s than Britain. Some of it was Marshall Plan money, but the failure of Britain to go quickly down the electrification route was the greatest post-war sin. And it wasn't just because Italy and German neglected roads - they built those too!

 

They had to rebuilt a large amount of destroyed infrastructure.

Ours was largely intact and the desire and impetus in a cash strapped economy, tended towards a restoration of a pre-war normal.

We patched up and made do.

The money was needed elsewhere.

A mindset that lasted for a long time.

Add in the massive cost of the 1950's and 60's Cold War, the propping up of the remains of Empire and the focus and budget being placed on new technologies, like Nuclear etc.

.

With Labour’s £28b flagship Green plans now thrown in the bin, what chance they can rustle up the money for restoring HS2 Phase 2a &b ?

.

4 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

However as has been pointed out before, all those alternatives would require, either a new Transport and works order or a new Parliamentary bill. New environmental assessment, consultation, etc etc.  They wouldn't be able to put a she El in the ground for 7 to 10 years.  They could start phase 2a tomorrow. 

 

Jamie

100%

Plus, how much would costs escalate in real terms, never mind inflation, if it takes another 10 years to get a new scheme underway?

The original Euston plan (complete rebuild) was deemed to be too expensive and highly disruptive, so they went ahead and designed a half plan (an 11 platform HS2 extension to a modified existing station).

That was then stopped by the a Treasury after £100 million had been spent on the design, because it was “too expensive”.

The resulting redesign then began to over-run by £4 billion and that has now been stopped by the PM.

Now they want private investment in a probably not-fit for purpose 6 platform station.

It’s not just HS2.

This cack-handed approach to saving money, by the Treasury and whatever government department is involved, has dogged public managed and funded projects (both civil and military) for decades.

It’s shambolic.

The politicians, of whatever party, are just the clueless lumps who get sucked into this failed system.

.

1 hour ago, BMacdermott said:

Hello everyone

 

Looks like long delays inbound at LHR (due weather?). I heard at least two planes say that they were approaching minimum fuel in the holds and might have to divert to LGW.

 

Inbounds Delta 3 (JFK) and United 924 (IAD) just completed a circuit over Bristol. And Speedbird 24R (ORD) is just doing the same.

 

Brian

Nothing out of the ordinary there Brian.

Just a typical bad weather day.

We get them for a few days every year.

Most planes landing, with a few diversions early on (BA diversions to Gatwick and Stansted).

A go-around for a BA flight from Jersey a few minutes ago, but most planes are landing.

.

3 minutes ago, locoholic said:

Andy Burnham has, quite understandably, been complaining that the HS2 Manchester trains will now have fewer seats than the current WCML service and be slower, because the HS2 trains won't be able to tilt north of Handsacre Junction. Is there any reason why tilting HS2 trains can't be ordered for destinations north of Handsacre, perhaps running on HS2 itself with the tilt mechanism switched off?

The trains have already been ordered to a specification issued before the cancellation of 2a.

In any case, I doubt there would be much of a time penalty resulting from any minor speed reduction on the stretches of track between Handsacre and Crewe (or Piccadilly), where 125 mph running depends on tilt.

Handsacre to Crewe is only something like 32 miles after all.

How much of that mileage needs tilt and would be affected?

The time saving resulting from running on HS2 Phase 1, would more than make up for it.

Sounds like a total Red Herring to me.

More concerning is the passenger capacity issue.

.

.

3 minutes ago, GordonC said:

 

it'd be interesting to know whether that could be built any cheaper and if so what the difference would be

 

There would be little to no savings as all the civil engineering and infrastructure would still have to be built, all the "mitigation" for this that and the other would still be insisted on and the environmental and nature ad-ons would almost certainly be kept.

On the other hand, the idea of a "conventional line" that would be for the exclusive use of HS2 trains, that coincidentally allowed running at errmm, "higher speeds", might be worth floating.

.

On 05/02/2024 at 22:48, PMP said:

There’s no weight restriction for the A380 on Manchesters parking stands, or taxiways except for Lima. Looking at their charts there’s two ‘large’ stands one each off  the end of Terminal1 and 3. Those stands have three positions on each stand and are likely used for a380, and 747-8’s. The operational access to the aircraft is key so airbridges, ground handling and lateral clearance around the airframe are all factors in stand allocation……

There’s only one A380 stand on the piers.

Stand 12 on the end of pier B ( T1), is specially equipped with the required airbridges, larger gate waiting area and has the lateral clearances.

Vertical clearances come into play as well.

The stands on the T3 pier are far too small, with the multiple parking positions being provided for smaller regional types.

For example, in FlyBe days, you’d see a couple Q400’s on one such gate and in an earlier era, BA Connect regional types.

These days it might be a single Ryanair 737 or suchlike.

The other stands at Manchester, capable of accommodating an A380, are remote stands on the Western Apron, near the cargo village - Stand 62  and Stand 80.

There’s possibly one other remote stand.

The T2 development plan includes several new A380 size stands (e.g. on Pier 2 currently under construction).

Originally, T1 was due to be decommissioned and demolished, but COVID delayed and resulted in some changes to the development timeline.

Under those original  plans, Stand 12 would have gone, but I don’t think anyone’s sure what’s going to happen to pier B in the near term.

With passenger numbers at Manchester, almost back to pre-Covid 2019 levels, I’m surprised that the plans haven’t been put firmly on track.

.

1 hour ago, GenericRMWebUsername said:

Neat models! I'm intrigued by the automatic uncoupling system. .... etc, etc....

 

.....If it works and is reliable, I think this feature will become a nice selling point for Bachmann. Other manufacturers are going to race to include something like this. It's the sort of feature that I think could become non-negotiable for certain modelers. 

 

Kudos to Bachmann for investing in this. It's these sort of features that will give the model an edge. 

As has been pointed out, this DCC feature has been around for at least a decade in other markets.

This is just the first time a British outline RTR model has included it.....finally.

.

Roads and Rails made a mistake then !

https://www.esu.eu/en/products/digital-control/ECoS-50210-dcc-system/what-ECoS-can-do/
 

.

This is one of the reasons that HS2 spending has gone off the charts.....

.

12 hours ago, class26 said:

There`s a mention of this in February`s "Modern Railways". Apparently the government decided to continue with all 7 platforms to give Birmingham additional capacity in the future stating that it was a relatively easy job to add a chord to the south so some services could free up space in New St. ..........

"Relatively easy job" ????????

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Somebody has been smoking some strong stuff !

The HS2 lines into and out of Curzon St. will be on a high viaduct, including the large Bellingham Bridge.

Leaving the station and crossing the Digbeth Branch Canal, the line then rises to cross over Lawley Middleway and high above the Duddeston line viaduct, before curving round to the north.

Crossing the River Rea just north of the Landor St. Freightliner terminal, the viaduct continues over the line through Saltley (passing in front of the NR West Midlands Signalling Centre, before gradually returning the ground level as it approaches Washwood Heath.

Where on earth can a chord to the south be easily inserted into that route?

CGI....

Curzon St. in the distance.

The Landor St. terminal is located just off the bottom of the photo.....

Crossing high above and over the Duddeston Line viaduct......

.

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

Meanwhile some real signs of progress on the Delta junction as mentioned above.....

 

That video has already been posted on here Jamie.

21st December 2023 -  Page 355

.

From yesterday's Daily Telegraph.....

HS2 bosses in talks to scrap first-class seats

Operator considering the step to maintain passenger capacity because of train shortening

First-class seats could be removed from HS2 in order to avoid a drop in passenger capacity after Rishi Sunak scrapped the northern leg of the multi-billion-pound project.

The Prime Minister cut back proposals for Britain’s high-speed railway in October because of spiralling costs. 

A new railway will still be built between London and Birmingham, but HS2 trains will then be switched to the existing West Coast Mainline track from Birmingham to Manchester.

The revised plans mean there could be a reduction in seats from London to Manchester as HS2 trains are shorter than existing trains that travel along this route, according to an internal government document seen by the Financial Times.

The document suggests capacity could drop from 1,690 to 1,530 seats per hour between London and Manchester.

Increased capacity was one of the original aims of HS2.

Three industry and government figures have told the Financial Times that HS2 is now looking at ways to address the fall in seat capacity, although no changes to contracts have yet been made. 

One option being considered is scrapping all first-class seats.

A senior rail industry figure told the Financial Times: “They are serious about ripping out first class, it’s another nail in the coffin of this being some kind of superior rail service but it’s probably less embarrassing than ending up with a lower capacity.” 

Another industry executive said that giving up first-class seats would be “another downgrade” for the line and could potentially lower revenues.  

The planned extension to the stations in Crewe and to the station at Manchester Piccadilly have been scrapped, meaning HS2 trains travelling beyond Birmingham will have to be shorter than planned. 

Sir Jon Thompson, the project’s chair, told MPs earlier this month that HS2 trains will also be slower than the current Pendolinos because the new trains cannot tilt round bends.

“The HS2 train will go the same as a Pendolino on straight, 125mph, and round the bends it’ll go slower at 115mph.

So an HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester, which of course would be almost entirely the West Coast Mainline, would go slower than the Pendelino, yes,” he said. 

HS2 declined to comment.

The Department for Transport said no changes have been made to HS2 contracts. 

A statement said: “The contract to design and build HS2 trains includes both standard and first-class areas for passengers.”

.

.

18 hours ago, melmerby said:

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street officiated at the start of the Curzon Street station build yesterday and commented that they want the HS2 leg from Birmingham to Manchester to go ahead.

He said he was meeting the Transport Secretary next week to discuss ways of financing it. This would include the possibility of some private finance…………

 

 

Press reporting is suggesting that this move by Andy Street and Andy Burnham is looking at different options to HS2 Phase 2.

It includes looking at upgrades and bypasses on the existing WCML route and the possibility of a section of brand new line.

This isn’t HS2 Phase 2, which is considered too expensive.

There’s some mention of this route reaching the Stockport area, then joining a proposed NPR route.

.