No that's not what I was saying. Just replying to Tony's post to back up what he was saying with some personal experience - which I appreciate is hardly a stunning revelation!
So what’s your answer guys? No more infrastructure? Just in case someone gets paid more than you feel they should?
No that's not what I was saying. Just replying to Tony's post to back up what he was saying with some personal experience - which I appreciate is hardly a stunning revelation!
This puts into perspective just how much of a shit show HS2 is/has been:
The 10 most expensive rail construction projects in 2022
248 rail projects broke ground in 2022. Here are the 10 most expensive.www.railway-technology.com
Hunt turns to his concluding remarks.
He goes on to praise the PM "whose own life story shows you just what's possible with education, aspiration and hard work".
Hunt says Sunak's story is "our story".
The answer is do it right. Like other countries. I accept no two countries are the same for a broad range of reasons but for some reason we obviously pay over the odds. Just on the tunnelling excuse alone if we’d subcontracted the building out to the Japanese government they could tunnelled the whole thing and been considerably cheaper than we’re doing it with little tunnelling in comparison to the size of the project.So what’s your answer guys? No more infrastructure? Just in case someone gets paid more than you feel they should?
The answer is do it right. Like other countries. I accept no two countries are the same for a broad range of reasons but for some reason we obviously pay over the odds. Just on the tunnelling excuse alone if we’d subcontracted the building out to the Japanese government they could tunnelled the whole thing and been considerably cheaper than we’re doing it with little tunnelling in comparison to the size of the project.
I was reading that the decision to “pause” the old oak to Euston leg is going to cost an extra £360M mainly because 2 tunnellers have to be parked. And the pause of 2 years will actually cause a delay of 3.5-4 years in total construction time which will push the price up again should a government wish to complete just that small stretch.But we didn’t. The money is spent. The decisions are taken. Any change in direction will end up costing more. We’ve got to bite the bullet, get it built, then take a serious look at how we plan and build infrastructure so it never happens again.
But stupid to it in a city it will negatively impactPippa Crerar of the Guardian now claiming that Sunak is going to announce the scrapping of phase two in his conference speech.
I was reading that the decision to “pause” the old oak to Euston leg is going to cost an extra £360M mainly because 2 tunnellers have to be parked. And the pause of 2 years will actually cause a delay of 3.5-4 years in total construction time which will push the price up again should a government wish to complete just that small stretch.
Yeah but they’ll retain Boris’ old seat again so that’s really a winBut stupid to it in a city it will negatively impact
Well that's the red wall back being red next year then
The thing is even Blair didn't win that seat in 1997 so it being that close is not a good thing for the toriesYeah but they’ll retain Boris’ old seat again so that’s really a win
Just to add that I do actually agree with the bite the bullet stance. Problem I have now if it gets cancelled they think that’s the answer to what was a badly managed project from day one that has just gotten worse and worse. The only real answer is manage it better from day one. The government I seem to remember were getting hit with penalties pretty much from day one due to delaying and pausing decisions. Some I don’t doubt were caused by things like consultation with communities etc but not all by any stretch of the imagination.But we didn’t. The money is spent. The decisions are taken. Any change in direction will end up costing more. We’ve got to bite the bullet, get it built, then take a serious look at how we plan and build infrastructure so it never happens again.
Just to add that I do actually agree with the bite the bullet stance. Problem I have now if it gets cancelled they think that’s the answer to what was a badly managed project from day one that has just gotten worse and worse. The only real answer is manage it better from day one. The government I seem to remember were getting hit with penalties pretty much from day one due to delaying and pausing decisions. Some I don’t doubt were caused by things like consultation with communities etc but not all by any stretch of the imagination.
There is zero value for money for the taxpayer on HS2 in terms of project costs, I can speak from experience on that.
Too many layers of subcontractors that each put their cut on top to turn a £10k job into a £100k job.
It’s difficult because we’re talking about huge sums of money but I’m old enough to remember all the same arguments about the M25. Can’t imagine navigating London now without it. We didn’t know at the time what great value for money it turned out to be, can’t help but feel that the decision to not complete HS2 will be lamented in a relatively short period of time, maybe even within a decade or two, and we’ll end up building it eventually at even more cost.If it takes eleventy billion to finally get government to sort its shit out it’s worth every penny.
With a change in Govt?It’s difficult because we’re talking about huge sums of money but I’m old enough to remember all the same arguments about the M25. Can’t imagine navigating London now without it. We didn’t know at the time what great value for money it turned out to be, can’t help but feel that the decision to not complete HS2 will be lamented in a relatively short period of time, maybe even within a decade or two, and we’ll end up building it eventually at even more cost.
You can’t blame anyone for thinking that the Tories are setting a trap for the next government. Then again Labour might be secretly delighted that the Tories are cancelling it so they won’t have to deal with it.With a change in Govt?
You can’t blame anyone for thinking that the Tories are setting a trap for the next government. Then again Labour might be secretly delighted that the Tories are cancelling it so they won’t have to deal with it.
How’s it a trap. The red wall northern seats want it. If labour win they’ll have to “deal with it” anyways as they’d be in power. Surely it’s an opportunity for them to advance the argument
That and when the cost inevitably increases they can say we cancelled that and claim Labour are economically incompetent.Andy Burnham is pro but not sure Starmer would nail his colours to it
Did I hear correctly that Kemi had a stab at Braverman over her failure of multiculturalism comment?It's blue on blue violence over HS2 and Truss stalking around like they are mad enough (and probably are) to give another shot.
I get why he wants to wait until autumn winter 2024 for the next election but a spring one would be bettwe for him. There will be not be another crushing local election defeat to get through for him and he might not be as damage
Nothing he will do will save them now, even their war on "green crap" is costing them 2019 tory voters
not seen that but she is pitching for leader after Sunak, she is attacking Stonewall for something or other nowDid I hear correctly that Kemi had a stab at Braverman over her failure of multiculturalism comment?
Faux culture war.not seen that but she is pitching for leader after Sunak, she is attacking Stonewall for something or other now
And that's where it's needed most!The red wall northern seats want it.
they are retrenching into their middle england heartlands so they can hold as much of that and rebuild after the next electionAnd that's where it's needed most!
They probably are. But the just build it argument is farcical when they always started with the wrong half, and it doesn't make sense for many of the reasons you mention, as it rides through and alienates swathes of blue blooded Tory. Start with the Northern half and it could have actually been to their benefit!they are retrenching into their middle england heartlands so they can hold as much of that and rebuild after the next election
I'd as what he has done but with that bampot it could be anythingScott Benton about to be suspended according to reports so another by-election in the Red Wall in the offing.
CorruptionI'd as what he has done but with that bampot it could be anything
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