Ron Ron Ron

The same goes for many government departments. it's not just the top job in each department (Secretary of State etc), but the other departmental ministers and junior ministers below, which are a constant round of musical chairs. Amateurs shoehorned into jobs in fields they largely have no experience in. Careers moves, with appointments often seen as a short term stepping stone to greater things etc, etc. The whole system is rotten to the core. This is no way to run the enterprise. .

An aerial view looking east - Jan 2024 This shows the eastern half of the Colne Valley Viaduct. The halfway point of the viaduct is approximately between a quarter and a half of the photo from the left edge. The launching girder has reached the Grand Union Canal - the line of trees and boat marina (left of the launching girder) mark the canal route. The western portal of the Copthall (green) tunnel, can be seen in the distance, with the realigned Harvil Road passing over the top. The buildings at the bottom right of the photo, are a residential complex on the site of the former Denham film studios. The London skyline can be seen on the distant horizon. .

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They have been very poor in updating progress. However, the Northolt West TBM's, Shushila and Caroline also had updates today. .

HS2 begins epic year-long, half-kilometre viaduct deck slide https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/news/hs2-begins-epic-year-long-half-kilometre-viaduct-deck-slide .

Certainly some confusion somewhere, but I take issue with your apparent notion that property ownership is "middle class" (whatever that means?). The majority of what may be termed "working class" (whatever that means, if anything today) are home owners. .

That's why I ask what his "less than 25%" means? If meaning home ownership then.... The ONS figures show home ownership by household as 62.3%. A third of all homes (33%) are owned outright, without any mortgage or any sort of debt on them. 29.3% are owned with a mortgage or home loan against them. Another 17% of homes are also privately owned. The bulk of which are rented out., but this also includes holiday or 2nd homes. Socially rented households represent only 20.7% of all households. Down from its peak of 34% in 1981. Note that the UK population in 1981 was 56 million. Today it's touching 68 million, with an additional (by the governments own estimates) between 600,000 and 1.2 million extra "unknowns" living here. .

The NPR line from Liverpool was a supposed to joint HS2, out to the west of Manchester Airport and share the HS2 line from there to Piccadilly. HS2's Piccadilly plan is for an above ground station (not ground level) approached on a viaduct. Andy Burnham and the TfN NPR advocates would prefer a sub-surface HS2 + NPR station, which would allow through running, onwards towards the NPR trans-pennine route, rather than having to reverse trains at HS2's planned terminus. The sub-surface station proposal, would mean a significant change to the station approach, as there would be no need to create a tunnel portal and build over a mile of rising viaduct from there to the Piccadilly site. Instead, the line would continue in tunnel right into the new HS2 + NPR station. Less (expensive) land acquisition on the long station approach and a large amount of money making development potential above ground. .

What is less than 25% ? .

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With the Christmas and New Year holiday pause in activities now behind us, the TBM's are back in action. At the Chilterns tunnels, today's report says that "Florence" has only 592 metres left to go, before break through at the north portal. At a rough guess, that event will take place in the first week of February (4 to 5 weeks from now). "Cecilia" is a little way behind and either yet to re-start after the break, or has only just started off again. Breakthrough is likely to be in late February, or early March. TBM "Lydia" boring the OOC Logistics Tunnel, is due to be dismantled and removed, beginning at the end of this month, January. Progress reports about this tunnel have been scant, from day 1. The last report dated 19th December, said that there was still 216 metres remaining, which was similar if not the same as the previous report, so open to scepticism. Reports say that breakthrough into the eastern section of the OOC station box, is expected in the next couple of weeks., after which, the bulk of the TBM will apparently be towed back through the newly constructed tunnel, to Atlas Road, for removal and dismantling. Presumably the cutting head and shield front end will have to be removed at OOC ? Further news. From later this month and through to March, cranes and lifting gear will start to be assembled at OOC, in preparation for lowering sections of the Euston tunnels TBM's into the eastern end of the OOC station box. .

You are grasping at straws. That was just a short term delay caused by a train fault (SouthEastern), cleared quickly….. Incident reported: 08 Jan 2024 at 12:03 Incident cleared: 08 Jan 2024 at 13:11 .

Just to the east of Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The new bridge that will take the diverted B4115 over HS2. Beyond we see preparations for building the bridge to take the A46 over the new line. Then the drone turns round and heads a short distance SE, towards the edge of the Stoneleigh Park estate, before turning back to the starting point of the video. .

More views of work in progress. This time between Wormleighton and Upper Boddington, about 2.6 miles NW of the Chipping Warden "Green Tunnel". .

If they were to make changes back to the original connection onto the fast lines, plus all the necessary upgrades and enhancements to the WCML north of Handsacre (that NR are apparently now looking at in earnest), there won't be much of a saving left from the cancellation of Phase 2a (to Crewe). What a stupid, stupid decision, it was to cancel 2a ! .

Long Itchington Woods tunnel, north portal.... .

New Years Day at Burton Green (no work being done over the holiday period).... .

The first weekend in January and the Launching Girder, "Dominique", is seen at rest, ready to start building another span on Monday. Note the progress since crossing Moorhall Road, just over a month ago. The two thirds point has been reached. Also, from the video you can see that the Grand Union Canal crossing is very close....and the end point at Harvill Road is visible in the distance. From last week....... a view from Moorhall Road. .

Can we get back on subject please? Discussions on languages, industrial training and other stuff, should really be in the Wheeltappers section. .

You want to try Italy then. Far more conservative than Britain and not that many people speak foreign languages. I have family there. My sister has lived there for 40+ years and says she could count on one hand, the number of people she’s known over all that time, who could speak English. Her neighbours spoke German, as they had lived and worked in Switzerland for 30 years or so, before retiring back home. My nephew’s speak English, because of their Mum, but not many of their “young” friends speak any foreign languages…and they travel a lot. There is far more cultural conservatism across most of mainland Europe than our relatively, very socially liberal UK. This “fortress Britain” trope, is a bit weak. .

........and returning back on topic........... A view looking backwards, flying westwards over the Copthall Tunnel and the remaining third of the Colne Valley Viaduct, left to do.. At the start of the video, you can just about see the West Ruislip portal site, in the distance. The video ends after reaching the Launching Girder, which has almost reached the crossing point over the Grand Union Canal. .

I'm not sure why you've quoted me, on a completely different and unrelated aspect Mike? Did you quote the wrong post? .

(my Bold) Oh how wrong you are. That road costs a lot of money to maintain, operate and constantly update, adapt and evolve. .

The Kinesis set is available to pre-order from Rails at £339.95. A saving of £60 (15% off) .

Blame the French. It’s their train company after all. .