HS2 - Local & National News
For National HS2 news, visit the Stop HS2 News pages,
the Google HS2 news feed,
& the Stop HS2 "TV station" on YouTube
2023 News >>>
20-Jun-2025
HS2 won't open in 2019 2025 2033 !!
Well, who could have guessed ...
"[Mark Wild] stated, in no uncertain terms, that the overall project, with respect to cost, schedule and scope, is unsustainable. Based on his advice, I see no route by which trains can be running by 2033 as planned ... he cannot be certain that all cost pressures have yet been identified."
Heidi Alexander, SoS for Transport, Statement to the House
Also from Mark Wild -
" my programme assessment has estimated completion to be around a third. According to Baseline 7.1, the programme should be three quarters complete at this point"
"The organisation is too bureaucratic, process-driven, and risk-averse. It does not operate like an expert builder of a railway"
" Regaining control of the Main Works Civil Contractors will involve a challenging negotiation and may require robust action in support from Government. "
" I am stopping all activity that does not solely support the reset, in year productivity or essential controls"
See also Railway News, Construction Enquirer, New Civil Engineer
Any money left over for Landscaping ?
22-Jun-2024
HS2 and the Election
See this post from Stop HS2., who have read the stuff for us - Thanks !! Only Reform have a clear cut policy -
"Save £25 billion by scrapping the rest of this bloated vanity project."
01-Jun-2024
Grims Ditch - saved ?
The schedule 17 application for Grims Ditch ancient monument has been released
14-Feb-2024
Just another sinkhole - or two ?
... nothing to get excited about.
Misbourne Pollution (off topic, obvs)
Amersham sewage holding tanks (behind the London Road waste center) are overflowing, flooding on Bottom House Farm Lane . Chalfont St Giles pumping station closed due to groundwater pollution. If this didn't happen every year, people might blame it on the Chiltern Tunnels ?
07-Feb-2024
PAC - the sleepers awake...
Didn't we read somewhere that phase 1 alone was poor value for money ??
The Public Accounts Committee are shocked, shocked to find that HS2 running only from London to the West Midlands "will offer very poor value for money for the taxpayer" - as Oakervee said when he approved it for Boris in 2020 (since when it has all got worse). Their report now estimates the cost of what remains at £64bn - but hey, its worth that to avoid the embarresment of spending £11bn clearing up the mess ???
A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said: "We've been clear about our cost challenges, which have been compounded by significant levels of inflation."
"HS2 Ltd is now under new [ No ?? ] leadership and implementing changes across the programme aimed at controlling costs and learning the lessons of the past."
( BBC news; see also
ITV,
inews )
Stand for the Trees say ACTION - now is a great time to ask our MPs to help scrap HS2 altogether - go for it !