HS2 Bill - Royal Assent?

[Ironside]

Hopefully 20th Feburary 2017 will be the day when it completes its journey in Parliment.

I remember 25th November 2013 when it began it - anyone else feel like it was a lifetime ago?

It was along time ago, hopefully future phases will go through parliament a bit quicker, but that's probably wishful thinking.

 

[HowMuch?]

It was along time ago, hopefully future phases will go through parliament a bit quicker, but that's probably wishful thinking.

As Winston Churchill said (possibly quoting someone else) "Parliamentary Democracy is the worst possible political system - apart from all the other systems that have been tried"

A long-winded approval process is the price we pay for not having a system where "the strong man at the top" just says what he wants and everyone else likes it or lumps it.

 

[Chester1]

The hybrid bill for phase 2a is due to be introduced at the end of the year and the hybrid bill for phase 2b in Autumn 2019. By convention parliament handles only one hybrid bill at a time therefore the government must be expecting the phase 2a bill to complete in under 2 years.

 

[MidlandMainlie]

The hybrid bill for phase 2a is due to be introduced at the end of the year and the hybrid bill for phase 2b in Autumn 2019. By convention parliament handles only one hybrid bill at a time therefore the government must be expecting the phase 2a bill to complete in under 2 years.

What about a hybrid bill for Crossrail 2, surely such a bill would have to run concurrently with a bill for phase 2b if Crossrail 2 is expected to make its opening date in the 2030's alongside the full HS2 network?

 

[Chester1]

What about a hybrid bill for Crossrail 2, surely such a bill would have to run concurrently with a bill for phase 2b if Crossrail 2 is expected to make its opening date in the 2030's alongside the full HS2 network?

Crossrail 1 legislation went before parliament 2005 to 2008 and the project will complete 2019. So theoretically your are right because it would be 2019 to 2022 for 2033 completion. I am not sure 11 years from Royal Assent to completion is actually neccessary, HS2 phase 1 will be 9 years and phase 2b 8 years. Its plausible that HS2 phase 2b will be 2019 to 2021 and Crossrail 2 2021 to 2024 for completion in 2033. If there was an immediate rush then phase 2a legislation would be planned to be submitted to parliament as as soon as phase 1 recieves Royal Assent instead of in the Autumn.

 

[deltic]

Crossrail 1 legislation went before parliament 2005 to 2008 and the project will complete 2019. So theoretically your are right because it would be 2019 to 2022 for 2033 completion. I am not sure 11 years from Royal Assent to completion is actually neccessary, HS2 phase 1 will be 9 years and phase 2b 8 years. Its plausible that HS2 phase 2b will be 2019 to 2021 and Crossrail 2 2021 to 2024 for completion in 2033. If there was an immediate rush then phase 2a legislation would be planned to be submitted to parliament as as soon as phase 1 recieves Royal Assent instead of in the Autumn.

Phase 2a cannot be submitted till autumn this year as all the preparatory work will not be ready till then.

 

[po8crg]

I doubt that Parliament would have insuperable problems having both the HS2 2b Bill and the Crossrail 2 Bill open at the same time.

The obvious approach would be to introduce one of them in the Lords first, so one gets a Lords Select Committee and the other a Commons one.

 

[po8crg]

Crossrail 2 have said they intend to submit their Hybrid Bill before the end of this Parliament (ie before 2020). If 2b is going to be submitted in Autumn 2019, then they will have to deal with both at once.

Getting enough MPs to agree to spend 2 years on a Select Committee for hearing Hybrid Bill petitions is a real challenge for the Whips. Getting twice as many to cover two Select Committees might well be impossible, which is why I suspect that one will be introduced in the Lords. Probably whichever is less controversial (possibly HS2 by then?)

 

[hwl]

Crossrail 2 have said they intend to submit their Hybrid Bill before the end of this Parliament (ie before 2020). If 2b is going to be submitted in Autumn 2019, then they will have to deal with both at once.

Getting enough MPs to agree to spend 2 years on a Select Committee for hearing Hybrid Bill petitions is a real challenge for the Whips. Getting twice as many to cover two Select Committees might well be impossible, which is why I suspect that one will be introduced in the Lords. Probably whichever is less controversial (possibly HS2 by then?)

Hopefully fewer contentious local issues on HS2a/b as more of the councils are aligned with HS2 than on phase 1 and after phase 1 HS2 should be better at sorting issues before they become petitions and will be able to point to pahse 1 agreements to encourage settlement before petitioning is considered.

 

[Class 170101]

Crossrail 2 have said they intend to submit their Hybrid Bill before the end of this Parliament (ie before 2020). If 2b is going to be submitted in Autumn 2019, then they will have to deal with both at once.

Getting enough MPs to agree to spend 2 years on a Select Committee for hearing Hybrid Bill petitions is a real challenge for the Whips. Getting twice as many to cover two Select Committees might well be impossible, which is why I suspect that one will be introduced in the Lords. Probably whichever is less controversial (possibly HS2 by then?)

But where does that leave HS3 or indeed further extensions (to Scotland) of HS2? I guess East, West Rail will have to 'travel' through Parliament in the same manner as well?

 

[snowball]

Hopefully fewer contentious local issues on HS2a/b

That's assuming that South Yorkshire can agree among itself about where its bit of phase 2b should go.

 

[Chester1]

But where does that leave HS3 or indeed further extensions (to Scotland) of HS2? I guess East, West Rail will have to 'travel' through Parliament in the same manner as well?

Any HS works in Scotland can be authorised by a simple Act of Parliament granting the Scottish Parliament authority over the details. Currently, HS3 is out of favour because Transport for the North is pushing for a Transpennine road tunnel instead. Minor realignments and other improvements to existing lines would require secondary legislation only or none at all.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Crossrail 2 have said they intend to submit their Hybrid Bill before the end of this Parliament (ie before 2020). If 2b is going to be submitted in Autumn 2019, then they will have to deal with both at once.

Getting enough MPs to agree to spend 2 years on a Select Committee for hearing Hybrid Bill petitions is a real challenge for the Whips. Getting twice as many to cover two Select Committees might well be impossible, which is why I suspect that one will be introduced in the Lords. Probably whichever is less controversial (possibly HS2 by then?)

One of the policy statements about HS2 was that it would continue the rate of spend for Crossrail 1, and not require a massive increase in public financing.
Forgetting parliamentary time, there must be Treasury constraints on how these mega-projects are going to be financed.
I don't think it's a given that Crossrail 2 will just "happen" when the bill gets through parliament, nor HS2b/3.
Brexit might also have an impact if the economy slows.
This is also why the government wants some private (Chinese?) financing for HS2, so they can start other projects.

 

[Altnabreac]

Any HS works in Scotland can be authorised by a simple Act of Parliament granting the Scottish Parliament authority over the details. Currently, HS3 is out of favour because Transport for the North is pushing for a Transpennine road tunnel instead. Minor realignments and other improvements to existing lines would require secondary legislation only or none at all.

Anything north of Lockerbie doesn't even need that as Holyrood already has the authority for authorising lines wholly within and between stations in Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament has managed a number of Hybrid infrastructure bills over the years including for Waverley line, Stirling - Alloa, EARL, GARL, Edinburgh Trams (x2) and the Forth Replacement Crossing. Some of these might now be dealt with by the expanded Transport and Works act process but High Speed Rail Scotland would likely be of a scale requiring a hybrid bill.

 

[work-traveller]

Some of these might now be dealt with by the expanded Transport and Works act process but High Speed Rail Scotland would likely be of a scale requiring a hybrid bill.

Evidently the Transport and Works Act could be a vehicle for such schemes in the future. The chap who drafted the Bill said that such projects were in the mind of the MoT/Treasury when it was written back in the early 90s.

 

[TheDavibob]

On the assumption the commons wave through the amendments today, when would we expect RA?

 

[najaB]

On the assumption the commons wave through the amendments today, when would we expect RA?

Off topic, I know, but I've been hanging around the forum too much. I thought 'Right after the CD?'

 

[The Planner]

Ping Pong done, should be signed by the end of the week.

 

[deltic]

On the assumption the commons wave through the amendments today, when would we expect RA?

23rd Feb

 

[Busaholic]

23rd Feb

So that ends the Prologue, when does Chapter One begin?

 

[work-traveller]

So that ends the Prologue, when does Chapter One begin?

Depends what you consider Chapter one to be. Prelim design is already underway and construction starts this summer.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Prelim design is already underway and construction starts this summer.

What will be the first part of construction?

 

[The Planner]

You could say it started over xmas with the work done to the backing out roads at Euston. They havent awarded any contractors for the main works yet.

 

[Class 170101]

Ping Pong done, should be signed by the end of the week.

Playing ping pong with some else now for a change

 

[work-traveller]

What will be the first part of construction?

Couldn't say, but expect to see construction in Birmingham this summer.

 

[deltic]

Couldn't say, but expect to see construction in Birmingham this summer.

Should see demolition works and utility diversions starting then - but majority of construction works wont start till 2018

 

[hwl]

Should see demolition works and utility diversions starting then - but majority of construction works wont start till 2018

Indeed site mobilisation given the size of each work site and taking posession of the land /buildings especially where detailed surveying and fencing /hoarding are required will take fair while (circa 300miles of fencing or hoarding for phase 1?). Getting properly mobilised along the route will take the best part of year

 

[swt_passenger]

Will they expect to see Joe Rukin chaining himself to the bulldozers at some stage?

 

[plcd1]

The Commons Speaker has confirmed that the Queen has granted the HS2 Act Royal Assent. Just seen via Twitter.

 

[najaB]

The Commons Speaker has confirmed that the Queen has granted the HS2 Act Royal Assent. Just seen via Twitter.

Woohoo!! Who has the keys for the JCB?