My Worry About HS2
HS2 is the proposed new high-speed railway to Birmingham, the north of England and Scotland.
I have my doubts about the viability of the line, but feel that it should be built, if only to release capacity on the other main lines to the north for freight.
My big worry though is that because so many Nimbys oppose HS2, then there will be opportunity for a political party to stand at the next election on an anti-HS2 ticket. After all the cost of the line at £32billion would go a long way in other directions.
It would be unlikely that the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats would do this, as it is their policy, but the Labour Party might despite it being theirs too! After all power is everything!
I can’t see the Greens being against HS2, but UKIP is according to this on their web site.
So will all those opposed to HS2 vote for UKIP?
I certainly hope not!
Crossrail and Pudding Mill Lane
Crossrail is also getting in on the act, just to the south-west of the Olympic site. It will emerge by the Pudding Mill Lane station on the DLR. These are some pictures I took yesterday.
Unfortunately, the angles from the station doesn’t allow any decent pictures of the construction of the Crossrail portal to be taken.
The Greenway Bridge Over Stratford High Street Nears Completion
I took some pictures of this bridge in September last year.
Here are some more recent ones from yesterday.
It looks like it’ll be on time for the Olympics.
A High Speed Diesel Train at Castle Cary
I took this video of a High Speed Diesel Train at Castle Cary station some time ago.
I think though, that it sums up the grace and pace of probably the best diesel train ever built. It’s certainly the fastest in regular service and has proved that good engineering is timeless.
The railway industry and press is now saying that these trains will still be running to Devon and Cornwall from London in 2035, which will make them about sixty-five years old. I don’t believe that all will be retired even then, especially as they have other uses like the Flying Banana. But with another refurbishment to include coach rewiring, power doors and better toilets, they would make superb trains to take leisure passengers to the far-flung parts of the UK.
From Stratford to Stratford International on the DLR
I took this video on the Docklands Light Railway today.
I wasn’t sitting in the cab, as this is a driverless train. But I would have been if it wasn’t! The DLR must be the only train, where passengers get a windscreen wiper.
As the train slows into Stratford International, you can see the Olympic Village on your left.
The Curse of Sat-Navs
The government is having a summit to get sat-navs correct.
In my view the problem goes deeper, in that some companies, organisations and individuals, now think that everybody has one, and that is how they’ll find a particular place. I found that some football clubs, just put a sat nav address on their website to guide visiting fans, with no information on public transport. I won’t give an example, as hopefully they have corrected the omission.
I don’t even have a smart phone, as I don’t need one, so the only maps I rely on in new areas, are those provided by the city, or a small atlas or a page printed from the Internet, I can keep in my pocket. I tend to travel as light as possible and at the moment, if I can’t get it in my pockets or small bag, I don’t take it.
After all, if towns or cities want to attract visitors, they should provide signs, maps and other information. Some cities like Manchester are so badly served, I will only go if I can’t possibly avoid the trip. But if places like Exeter, Norwich and Ipswich can get it right, surely anybody can.
If we assume that everybody has an electronic navigation device, we are making a very bad mistake.
How to Do a Football Shuttle Bus
The Madejski Stadium isn’t close to Reading town centre or the station, but getting there on Saturday couldn’t have been easier.
At the station there was a signpost that couldn’t have been clearer.
Signpost at Reading Station
The walk wasn’t far too and I think it will be shorter and easier, once they finish the works at the station.
A Smart Football Shuttle Bus
The bus was a rather smart Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 and I think it was a hybrid too. It was also free to those with a bus pass.
Many other clubs could do well to look at how Reading organise the transport for fans.
It was a pity Ipswich went and lost.
London’s Station Above the Thames
Blackfriars station is being rebuilt to give extra capacity to Thameslink and entrances on both banks of the River Thames.
It is going to be an impressive station, when it is completed next year.
What Do You Do With Six Million Tonnes Of Earth?
Crossrail will produce six million tonnes of earth and spoil, from where they are digging the tunnels, shafts and stations in London. Three-quarters of this are being used to create a new wetland habitat for the RSPB at Wallasea Island, north of Southend in Essex. Read all about it here.
Crossrail’s Tunneling Machines
The BBC has been showing a story with video about Crossrail‘s giant tunneling machines which will start work in the near future.
Crossrail has more on the boring of 42 km. of tunnels under London using eight tunnel boring machines here.
They also have more on the Tunneling and Underground Construction Academy, which will be a unique legacy of Crossrail and will continue to provide trained staff for tunnel projects all over the world.
We really are entering the Golden Age of Tunneling.
The Anonymous Widower 