pellinore Posted February 8, 2023 #1 Share Posted February 8, 2023 (edited) HS2 is proving beyond the capabilities of a British state that has descended into routine incompetence. The cost of the line has tripled from the initial estimate of £33 billion to more than £100 billion, and there is still no sign that the first trains are ready to run. Even worse than the escalating cost is the scaling back of the ambition. First of all the extension to Scotland was axed, even though that was by far the most useful part of the project (lots of us fly to Scotland instead of getting the train, while hardly anyone flies from London to Birmingham). And now we have learnt that speeds might be reduced as well, and the number of trains running every day slimmed down, to save on costs. At this rate, we can expect a single steam train a day to puff its way through the Chilterns, perhaps starting somewhere in Buckinghamshire, and ending up close to Solihull, carrying a few tourists and train spotters. HS2 is making Britain a global laughing stock (msn.com) Edited February 8, 2023 by pellinore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.A.T.1961 Posted February 8, 2023 #2 Share Posted February 8, 2023 You have to wonder how the Victorians coped with nimby's and others when they built the UK rail network ? Infrastructure is an investment that should be measured by its long term benefit and it does not appear to be beyond the UK's ability to build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.A.T.1961 Posted February 8, 2023 #3 Share Posted February 8, 2023 And as for puffing around in a steam train bring it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolltide Posted February 8, 2023 #4 Share Posted February 8, 2023 California: Hold my beer.. When California voters first approved a bond issue for the project in 2008, the rail line was to be completed by 2020, and its cost seemed astronomical at the time — $33 billion When the California High-Speed Rail Authority issued its new 2022 draft business plan in February, it estimated an ultimate cost as high as $105 billion. Less than three months later, the “final plan” raised the estimate to $113 billion. The rail authority said it has accelerated the pace of construction on the starter system, but at the current spending rate of $1.8 million a day, according to projections widely used by engineers and project managers, the train could not be completed in this century. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/09/us/california-high-speed-rail-politics.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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