Birmingham Grand Central station & High Speed 2

[morestoreysplease]

Uncertainty set to reign in Eastside and Digbeth for the near future then with no long-term leases allowed thus letting the area rot...

[sefton66]

I wouldn't worry too much, they're still awarding contracts for the scheme!

Two HS2 design jobs go to Parsons Brinckerhoff
Aaron Morby | Tue 15th May | 15:22

High speed railway promoter HS2 has awarded two design contracts to Parsons Brinckerhoff covering railway systems design services.

The first contract, valued at £4.3m, covers the design of the high speed rail systems for Phase 1 of the project, from London to West Midlands.


The second contract, valued at £3.7m, covers the design of modifications to the existing Network Rail systems at key interface points such as Euston, Old Oak Common and the West Coast mainline.

Throughout this process they will work closely with HS2’s systems engineers, civil and structural engineers and environmental specialists as well as Network Rail.

The preliminary designs will be used to inform the hybrid bill documents that are due to be submitted to Parliament by the end of 2013.

It brief includes design of the track, the overhead catenary system, signalling systems, power distribution and telecommunications.

It also includes the design and management of M&E services, including tunnel ventilation and lighting and operation and maintenance.

HS2 timeline

2013: Consultation on the environmental statement based on the environmental impact assessment (EIA). Environmental surveys start in 2012.

End of 2013: Hybrid Bill starts process through Parliament.

2015: Target date for Royal Assent for the hybrid bill, containing legal powers to construct HS2.

2017-2025: Construction period (starts and ends at different times and at different points along the route.)

2024-2026: Commissioning and testing of Phase 1, from London to the West Midlands.

2026: Phase 1 of line opens to passengers.

[JayPeeDee]

It always amazes me how long it takes to construct anything (nowadays) in this country. Brunel's Great Western Railway took 5 years from beginning to end to complete its 152 miles, which included the longest railway tunnel in the world (at the time). How come HS2 takes twice as long to complete in today's day and age, some 180 years later and over a distance some 20% shorter than the GWR???

Two years to test the line? What a load of bollocks. Sounds like someone's making a lot of money out of this, if it ever happens...

[howester89]

Originally Posted by JayPeeDee

It always amazes me how long it takes to construct anything (nowadays) in this country. Brunel's Great Western Railway took 5 years from beginning to end to complete its 152 miles, which included the longest railway tunnel in the world (at the time). How come HS2 takes twice as long to complete in today's day and age, some 180 years later and over a distance some 20% shorter than the GWR???

Two years to test the line? What a load of bollocks. Sounds like someone's making a lot of money out of this, if it ever happens...

Thankfully in the UK we now have democratic rights and can't be expected to be turfed out of our homes without decent compensation or consultation. Sadly those in Slums etc in Victorian England didn't have the same protections. I have to say - Id much rather the consultation phase took place.

[JayPeeDee]

To be fair I've taken that into consideration. In ADDITION to the phase of 'turfing' people out of their homes it will still take twice as long to construct something less than 80% the distance that they managed 180 years ago...

Besides, people living on the route have very little option but to accept compulsory purchase of their property at a value determined by others, hardly very democratic. And what's different about consultation nowadays, probably no better than it was 200 years ago.

[DBadger]

Also because the cost, while pretty high, is a lot less when spread out over 10-20 years. Essentially, that's providing 10-20 years of jobs with that money, too, rather than it all being wasted in a short splurge. Infrastructure projects are all about jobs in the long run, like the autobahn.

[JayPeeDee]

Originally Posted by DBadger

Also because the cost, while pretty high, is a lot less when spread out over 10-20 years. Essentially, that's providing 10-20 years of jobs with that money, too, rather than it all being wasted in a short splurge. Infrastructure projects are all about jobs in the long run, like the autobahn.

Don't understand.

You get the thing built quickly and the economy benefits sooner. You prolong the construction and it costs more, not less. Who does it cost more - the public, you and me. Who benefits if it takes longer and costs more - the companies delivering it. Why does it need to take longer - because the companies delivering it want it to so they increase profits, increase the cost to the taxpayer, you and me. It doesn't need to take this long, really it doesn't.

[PabloW33]

Clearly we have no idea why the Civil Service has given this project a Red-Amber tag and without seeing their reasons then it is difficult to comment on why they have concluded this.

I would say one thing though - there seems to be no one who seriously disputes the WCML will be at capacity quite soon as will several stretches of the M1 and M40.

From that fact then we have to do something about the capacity, the argument then falls to how and when.

The WCML upgrade some years ago was ill conceived and cost a huge sum of money and huge amount of passenger disruption for rather modest rewards. I therefore feel that any attempt to further enhance the existing framework would be a bad move.

The only solution that makes sense to me is a new line and that may as well be HS2 or else you merely replicate WCML and Chiltern services - we should strive for better.

I accept that this point is moot and further accept that there will be all sorts of different routes suggested. I do not propose to debate them as I believe all options have been assessed by the work already done.

What needs to happen is a final decsion is made swiftly - if HS2is thrown out in say 12 months then there will simply not be sufficent time to do the work needed to avoid the capacity issues.

Finally having listened to many of the select committee reports then one thing that was clear - even those that are against when asked what might change their mind say that doing the project quicker will change the economics as revenue will be earnt that much quicker thereby reducing the actual cost.

[Nacho]

HS2 update :

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2...eals-worth-8m/

[SuttonBluenose]

Originally Posted by PabloW33

Clearly we have no idea why the Civil Service has given this project a Red-Amber tag and without seeing their reasons then it is difficult to comment on why they have concluded this.

I would say one thing though - there seems to be no one who seriously disputes the WCML will be at capacity quite soon as will several stretches of the M1 and M40.

From that fact then we have to do something about the capacity, the argument then falls to how and when.

The WCML upgrade some years ago was ill conceived and cost a huge sum of money and huge amount of passenger disruption for rather modest rewards. I therefore feel that any attempt to further enhance the existing framework would be a bad move.

The only solution that makes sense to me is a new line and that may as well be HS2 or else you merely replicate WCML and Chiltern services - we should strive for better.

I accept that this point is moot and further accept that there will be all sorts of different routes suggested. I do not propose to debate them as I believe all options have been assessed by the work already done.

What needs to happen is a final decsion is made swiftly - if HS2is thrown out in say 12 months then there will simply not be sufficent time to do the work needed to avoid the capacity issues.

Finally having listened to many of the select committee reports then one thing that was clear - even those that are against when asked what might change their mind say that doing the project quicker will change the economics as revenue will be earnt that much quicker thereby reducing the actual cost.

Welcome to the forum PabloW33

[John07]

Originally Posted by JayPeeDee

To be fair I've taken that into consideration. In ADDITION to the phase of 'turfing' people out of their homes it will still take twice as long to construct something less than 80% the distance that they managed 180 years ago...

Besides, people living on the route have very little option but to accept compulsory purchase of their property at a value determined by others, hardly very democratic. And what's different about consultation nowadays, probably no better than it was 200 years ago.

The reason for the long period of design and construction is basically cash flow. HS2 phase I is due to start when Crossrail is completed. So what is currently being spent on Crossrail will be spent on HS2. Constructing it quicker would push up public spending.

[woodhousen]

sorry to bump up the thread for a general topic but very interesting snippet from EGi below:

Birmingham LEP seeks land deal
By Lisa Pilkington | Investment | 30-05-2012 | 11:58 | Print

The Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership is to lobby for more control over the disposal of government-owned land as part of its negotiations to take more powers.

Under the Localism Act, LEPs can request the transfer of powers from government in a City Deal. The LEP's key proposals have been outlined in a draft document and also include relocating the headquarters of the HS2 rail project from London to Birmingham and a £25m medical research centre. The LEP wants greater influence over government land disposals for new homes and jobs creation.

Its proposals are due to be finalised in July, but it is also likely to lobby for the formation of a new local transport body, which would fund priority schemes within the LEP area.

LEP chairman Andy Street confirmed that talks with the government on the City Deal were close to reaching a resolution. He said: "This document demonstrates the extent of the ambition of the LEP, our confidence in our dialogue with government, and the consensus reached by the local authorities and business leaders who are members of the LEP over priorities for accelerating growth."

Cities minister Greg Clarke is overseeing talks between the government and 11 English cities to devolve powers from central government. Both Manchester and Liverpool now have a City Deal in place.

[sefton66]

6,000 jobs plan at ex-LDV site in Washwood Heath
By Neil ElkesMay 31 2012

THE former home of van maker LDV and train maker Alston could be creating jobs for up to 6,000 as early as next year, city bosses have pledged.

But it is dependent on an alternative site being found for a HS2 train maintenance depot first.

Speaking during a visit to the Washwood Heath site with shadow local government minister Hilary Benn, Labour leader Sir Albert Bore said: “There is work going on in the council looking at alternative sites for the HS2 carriage works, that needs to be solved.

“The developers say they can have machinery on site by spring next year.”

The site has been earmarked as the HS2 depot for some time but this is unlikely to be up and running before 2026 and even then might only create a few hundred jobs.

Sir Albert says this is too long a wait for the 55-acre Alstom and 64-acre LDV sites could be laying idle, when they can begin creating thousands of industrial and manufacturing jobs next year.

The plan meets his new administration’s two central aims of job creation and tackling inner city deprivation, with unemployment rates in the area among the highest in the UK.

Mr Benn said that the council is showing how it can make a difference locally: “Birmingham is helping itself and getting on with it,” he said.

“There is obvious potential for 6,000 jobs and the owners are getting on with clearing the site.

“It is pretty ambitious and shows what can be done locally.”

Read More http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...#ixzz1wTMBEWgx

[lbrown]

Someone in my office (a railway office working on some HS2 element) said he'd seen a picture/plan of the proposed Curzon Street HS2 station on stilts because of complaints from Digbeth about it being cut off. Has anyone seen this plan?

[SuttonBluenose]

Originally Posted by lbrown

Someone in my office (a railway office working on some HS2 element) said he'd seen a picture/plan of the proposed Curzon Street HS2 station on stilts because of complaints from Digbeth about it being cut off. Has anyone seen this plan?

I think I know the one you mean, has long span arches rather than stilts as you suggest?

[markmcd1976]

It would make sense. The city centre has been impacted too much by physical barriers over the years.

[SuttonBluenose]

I personally think, once we've got Eastside all done up nicely, it's time to remove the industrial units on the other side of the trainline in Digbeth and pump up some nice 3-4-5 storey flats like on Cheapside. would do a lot to the area.

Also have some more bars and restaurants, also some shops in the area. Eastside doesn't for me have enough shops (convenience stores for example) considering it's focus on students and apartment living.

[adamdalziel]

http://goo.gl/C8MiF

[adamdalziel]

http://goo.gl/Uv32x

[adamdalziel]

http://goo.gl/qWXDR