3 Oct 2023

UK high speed trains - NOT amateur radio

What a shambles!!  

In the UK we started a new infrastructure rail project (HS2) to connect the capital London with Manchester and Leeds. Over time, this project costing billions of pounds was way over budget. 

Officially, the UK government has still to make a final decision, but, after cancelling the extension to Leeds from Birmingham, it now looks like the line from Birmingham to Manchester will also be cancelled or shelved. 

The high speed line from Birmingham to London terminates on the edge of the city and it will actually take longer to get from Birmingham to central London using the high speed line costing billions than on existing trains!! What a cock up!!

Several questions are begged. Why did they not start in the north where the need was greatest? If they knew it was going to be over budget why do it at all? Why stop the Birmingham to London leg where it does at the London end?

For a very long time the current government has refused to say it is going to cancel the northern extension. I guess they are trying to think of some good words to say.

In my view, this has done serious, long-term, damage to the UK and the ruling Conservative party.


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