why all the hate for hs2?

I think the best example of government mismanagement on HS2 might be Euston. It's been redesigned about 3 times now, had construction start and stop, funding apparently confirmed and then not confirmed... all the while HS2 obviously needs a high capacity station at Euston but the government kept considering cutting it back to Old Oak Common... just need a clear decision that government will stick to.

The latest decision is to go with a 6 HS2 platform design, but this will clearly be a massive limitation on future service levels and the kind of short termism that national infrastructure projects should avoid. Still not actually clear how/whether the station itself will be funded either.

The engineering challenges aren't really that significant compared to the challenges of getting infrastructure built around the various environmental and planning obstacles requiring reams and reams of expensive paperwork that are in reality mostly worthless, and the challenges of a government that keeps introducing uncertainty and preventing long term investment in the sector.
 
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Harlequin said:
The entire problem is short term inism - programmes are not planned for multi years, as the government might change and the programme gets canelled.

Look at new nuclear. in 2008 a programme was being put forward to replacing 6 nuclear reactors with new nuclear ( https://assets.publishing.service.g.../uploads/attachment_data/file/228944/7296.pdf ). 2010 and a change of government, the whole lot was cancelled. Here we are 15 years later, nothing has been built and the old nuclear stations are beyond the end of their design lives.
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Yep. The two Queen Elizabeth class super carriers would have been cancelled in 2010’s by Cameron if it were not for the fact either way the contractor would have been paid AND we’d have a partially built platform, scrapped for pennies on the pound.
Guess Tories weren’t up for that mess, especially a flagship with the Queens name on it.

It’s not like Europe is any better though, trust me, visiting Germany (well the eastern part) they have the same grumbles as us, just feels like they’re 10 years behind our decline, that’s all but it’s catching up fast.

We have building reform coming. The big challenge is engaging with the building firms in such a way it (basically) makes them build a lot of quality housing, plus all the joined up thinking for national program for teaching teens the trades (college courses, apprenticeships), immigration exceptions for bring in folks from EU to help build. A real plan to bring it all together.

Can only wait and see for now. Give Labour a pass this term, see what they’ve achieved.
 
This country is such a joke. Water's ******, energy's hilariously expensive, we're the most expensive country in the world for public transport, and our biggest infrastructure project is just a meme at this point.

I guess this is what happens when the country's run by bankers for so long, eventually the chickens will come home to roost, as seen here.
 
The costs and delays are an utter embarrassment compared to what our European colleagues can deliver in terms of cost per mile of track. Couple that with the exorbitant costs to travel nationally. Joke shop.
 
Ali195 said:
We have building reform coming. The big challenge is engaging with the building firms in such a way it (basically) makes them build a lot of quality housing, plus all the joined up thinking for national program for teaching teens the trades (college courses, apprenticeships), immigration exceptions for bring in folks from EU to help build. A real plan to bring it all together.
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Until the next government come in and cancel it all, of course.
 
2033 is 8 years, im seeing 2035 touted now. So yes they will blame the tories but why does it take another 10 years to get it operational? It's not like they're starting from scratch here.
 
Diddums x said:
This country is such a joke. Water's ******, energy's hilariously expensive, we're the most expensive country in the world for public transport, and our biggest infrastructure project is just a meme at this point.

I guess this is what happens when the country's run by bankers for so long, eventually the chickens will come home to roost, as seen here.
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Makes you proud to be British right? :rolleyes:
 
200sols said:
This governments planning reform is basically building crap houses on the greenbelt and nature reserves. Don't be fooled by it, it's terrible.
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I wasn't referring to the housing reform but all the programmes to boost skill shortages in the related sectors. If Labour somehow stay in power perhaps we'll see something, perhaps we won't. If Reform get anywhere near power their only plans seem to be to gut public services and lower taxes, so I can't really see them entertaining the idea of training schemes for young people. If the Tories get into power.... well its not April the first is it?
 
The amazing part is that after 14 austere years of the government cutting back services and running a tight ship and banging the drum about fiscal responsibility we're still in a position where it feels like there's no money.

Was Covid really that expensive? Does the welfare state really cost that much to keep going? Is the NHS that expensive to continually prop up?

As @Diddums x says we're one of the most expensive places in the world to live, our supposed "privatised-for-the-better" utilities are all in the swanny, our local councils get less and less funding each year and we pay more and more to prop up the shortfall...


Where does all the money go? Something really doesn't add up to me.
 
BUDFORCE said:
It's being channelled into the pockets of the few.

We've been getting absolutely rinsed in this country and it's been getting significantly worse over the last 15-20 years
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yeah i think it is the frog in the boiling pot scenario and we have finally hit the point where we are getting to the point of no return, there is no hiding it now.
That said....... i cant say i am confident the current government will be much better, but i can say I believe they are likely better than any of the other options.

some of the issues are due to an inept or corrupt government screwing us for years
some of the issues we bought on our selves.

but unfortunately some of it is completely out of our control, be it maniacs in other countries, warmongering or just plain bad luck with the pandemic....... (but had we had a competent government for the last 20+ years we would have been in a better position to ride out the things we have little say in).
 
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