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My money is on phase 2a being delivered, but by a new/renamed arms length body who then manages the private sector consortium, with the line being called a different name. Ironically, the plan for a more commercial turnkey design and build contract, with less client involvement, was pretty much...

Yes the ground investigation works was well underway, with a lot of bore holes being drilled. Additionally, the contracts for the pre construction works and for the main works design contract were literally about to be to let. 1721736917 Whatever is done, realistically needs to be within the...

Yes, you could build the whole station box, but only fit out the first 6 platforms. And then have the rest as retail or leased out - e.g. pub, offices etc. This would in in effect adapt the original plan, and built the station in two halves - but adapt it by only fitting out the first half...

I believe that the NPR plans also include passive provision for a chord between the new NPR line and the WCML at Warrington, enabling trains to go Crewe to Manchester via the WCML then use the chord to join the NPR line into Manchester Airport and the tunnel into Manchester. Thus if 2a is...

1 is the most practical option IMHO. The legislation is there and it would only require a Transport and Works Act order to create a junction where the lines cross. It won’t get called HS2 but it will do pretty much the same thing. It could even be relatively high speed (250-300kph).

That is the key. There are two big issues that ministers will need to decide on soon - 1) what Handsacre link is built; fast or slow lines, with out without grade separation 2) Whether to sell off the 2a land or hold on to it for the foreseeable. Once those are decided, the decision of what to...

I’d be in favour of either reducing the peak hours, adding Thursday to the off peak all day policy or keeping as is but also having a lot more advances on the peak trains. Once you move away from having to maximise revenue, to a policy of public benefit and moving people by rail to reduce...

One thing that could release quite a bit of capacity and bring in revenue is ending the massive cliff edge between peak and off peak tickets on the WCML - trains between 15.30 and 19.00 are all peak and often half empty. A three and a half hour peak period is itself excessive. Either reduce the...

Yes it is still in the ownership of HS2. Safeguarding has been lifted on 2a but not 2b yet. HS2 Ltd are currently awaiting ministerial direction on what to do next. Based on my own very limited experience, I am optimistic.

No, no land has been sold.

There were similar fun and games today. The 11.13 Euston to Manchester was not called until 11.08; and even then barrier staff were loudly complaining to themselves that people were being allowed to board too early. They then removed the train from the boards at 11.10. Train left on time but...

This may be a controversial idea, but I’d actually support a policy of pulling a train from service if it has any graffiti, even if it causes a cancellation. There will be (a lot of) short term pain, but when the vandals get the message that no train runs in service with graffiti, then they will...

As mentioned upthread, having gone to Manchester and back to London this weekend to see friends, this agreement is very welcome and already seems to be making a difference. There were few cancellations on the Euston-Manchester route this weekend, and trains seemed to run on time. The staff...

The new day working agreement seems to making a real difference today. There are significantly fewer cancellations today compared to previous Saturdays. I’m currently on a fairly lightly loaded Euston to Manchester service, with the loadings being lighter as having a proper 3tph service is...

That is for the Curzon Street to OOC. Via Handsacre services will follow approximately 18-24 months later. Thanks to the delays incurred by the various rephasings, Handsacre Civils is a fair bit behind compared to the rest of the programme.

Haha yes I think that’s quite likely. The line won’t open till 2029-33 to Curzon St, with via Handsacre services following a couple of years after services to Curzon Street start. That is a lot of time to discuss what services will actually happen. Politics will inevitably change hugely between...

It was looked at, and discounted - the BCR is too low. By 2030, the units will be 30 years old and in theory only have 10-15 years left. It’s better to have new high speed capable stock, that also works well on the conventional network. The (too) short length aside, that’s what the new rolling...

The current plan I’ve seen is to still run 3tph from Manchester to London via HS2; and keeping 1/hour classic service via WCML Trent valley stations. The big issue is that the trains are currently planned as 200m 528 seat trains, which are shorter and lower capacity than the current 11 car...

I think it’s been touched on before, but the changes to the peak time Bromley North shuttle service are awful. It changes a useful service into one that a lot of people will ignore in favour of the bus. The morning peak has the 3tph service reduced from 7am to 10am, to just 7-8am. This removes...

You’d hope so, but my experience of the LGBTories is they are Tory first, LGBT second. They have maintained a radio silence on the refusal of the current leadership to ban conversion therapy, they did not criticise the ejection of Andrew Boff, their patron, from the Conservative conference when...