Recent content by MidlandMainlie

Good news sense has prevailed Would it be possible to build 6 platforms for HS2 as phase 1 of the rebuild on the cleared land to the West of the station with a plan to expand to 10 as part of the wider rebuild of the existing station?

It should have been called the ‘West Coast relief line’ or the ‘West Coast bypass line‘ to show the main focus of the project was on increasing capacity instead of speed.

I understand there is only one relatively short tunnel on the phase 2A section so any cost saving from reducing the diameter would be negligible at best. Also would changing the diameter mean that the TBM’s from phase 1 couldn’t be refurbished and reused so in terms of reducing costs it hardly...

Any construction on NPR isn’t going to begin until the 2030’s, there is still a huge amount of design work which the new government can continue and a hybrid bill to get through Parliament.

I think that is a fair approach but any decision on 2A will have to take into account the cost of alternatives such as upgrades between Handsacre and Crewe

Fair points and Labours plans to decarbonise through renewables will generate jobs and growth. However as has been mentioned uptread the truncation of phase 2A and the capacity bottlenecks on the WCML mean that the Government faces a choice either build 2A as planned or expensive and disruptive...

Not forgetting that Labour have mad achieving economic growth a key part of their economic strategy, but how are they going to achieve that growth if they don‘t invest in schemes like HS2a to deliver it?

It is no secret that Burnham and Starmer don’t get on but he won’t be deselected, he has already been confirmed as candidate for next Mays mayor election. A vote to bar him would have to be made at Labour’s National Executive Committee where Starmer is only one of 39 members and the Unions have...

That is the point though, the Act authorises the purchase of land I can’t understand how the PM can unilaterally decide to override without another vote in Parliament to repeal the Act. A judicial review would also take 9-15 months. I think there is support within Labour for building Phase 2...

You would think the decision would be judicially reviewed, I wouldn’t be surprised if Andy Burnham launched a legal challenge against the land sales for phase 2a Depending on the date of the next election there wouldn’t be much time, even with an Autumn election once the Summer recess happens...

Merging phase 2b into NPR makes sense although TfN would never be able to fund it without significant devolution of borrowing powers. Without phase 2b there is no NPR unless anyone can explain how it would get into central Manchester without the tunnels.

Because HS2 phase 2b and NPR are the same thing. You still have to build the most expensive parts (the tunnels from Manchester Airport and the station at Picadilly. Not building the relatively short section between where the NPR line diverges towards Warrington/Liverpool and Crewe means that HS2...

It is already legislated for so wouldn’t be that difficult for an incoming Labour Government to reinstate. 1694868556 Some of the route does look quite constrained by housing but I guess it would be rebuilt in a similar fashion to EWR. The most difficult bit would be the viaduct over the Ship...

NPR like HS2 is going to have to be built in phases. The Liverpool to Manchester section uses the upgraded Fiddlers Ferry line via Warrington then I assume a new section from where the line crosses the ship canal passing south of Lymm to link up with phase 2b to Manchester, that would be...

All Labour need to say in its manifesto is “We will build Northern Power House Rail in full staring with the Crewe to Manchester leg as the first phase“ (essentially rebranding phase 2b as part of NPR). Is is the only part of NPR that is planned and designed and unless the Tories stop the bill...