The new faster train track

[Kerr1992]

Just think though, that is 32 billion ploughed straight into the British economy (as long as they use British companies) ... This is the kind of investment this country needs a lot more of, you gotta spend money to fix the economy, and by that, I don't mean us spending all our wages, but government investing in infrastructure

 

[dave]

Just think though, that is 32 billion ploughed straight into the British economy (as long as they use British companies) ... This is the kind of investment this country needs a lot more of, you gotta spend money to fix the economy, and by that, I don't mean us spending all our wages, but government investing in infrastructure

is a 32 billion pound train set that most wont get to play with the right infrastructure to invest in though

its ploughed straight into the British economy but what comes out of it? no products that we could sell. like hover boards

 

[ChrisUK]

Just think though, that is 32 billion ploughed straight into the British economy (as long as they use British companies) ... This is the kind of investment this country needs a lot more of, you gotta spend money to fix the economy, and by that, I don't mean us spending all our wages, but government investing in infrastructure

Where do you think the money comes from a big magic "we're a fantastic country" pot? Comes from hard working people, businesses and motorists. Maybe they should consult with the people who are bank rolling it before pi$$ing that much cash down the drain!

 

[Kerr1992]

It's called the multiplier effect I believe, it means that for every pound spent the money multiplies creating more wealth. Or something along those lines anyway

 

[Kerr1992]

http://www.tutor2u.net/economics/content/topics/macroeconomy/multiplier.htm

Here, I'm not an economics expert so I could be wrong, but I remember my economics lecturer at college ranting on about the multiplier effect improving the economy through government spending

 

[ChrisUK]

I just see it as spending a large sum of money where less than half of the UK get to benefit from it.

But yes you're right, to a point. The money needs to be spent very carefully in projects that help the UK and europe. The sad reality is most of it is oursourced where it's cheapest.

 

[Kerr1992]

Yes I know, I was just being theoretical, high chance they will be Irish or German.

In fact, I'm sure the organisation producing the steel for the new forth crossing up here is German.

That bell end salmond blatantly ignored an offer from a Scottish company because they couldn't do it as cheap! Arse!

 

[scout]

Where do you think the money comes from a big magic "we're a fantastic country" pot? Comes from hard working people, businesses and motorists. Maybe they should consult with the people who are bank rolling it before pi$$ing that much cash down the drain!

They did consult with the people, had an overwhelming NO and then decided to go ahead anyway. Even most economists agree the business plan is flawed and that the British taxpayers will be bailing it out year on year for the foreseeable future but the government are determined to keep up with the Jones' (Europe) and have a high speed rail line.

 

[ben]

I'm guessing then this is just like the HSR (High Speed Rail) system we have here in Taiwan.

Same sorta issues in regards to station placement (apart from Taipei - the others are all about 20 mins from the "real" location) - however, the whole system is great.

Trains hit around 280kph - and bring journey times down from 3 hours to about 1 hour 10 (depending on where you are going of course).

 

[RuSZ]

I'm for HS2.

But its a shame its passing within 100metres of my house on a 250ft high viaduct..

 

[scout]

Same sorta issues in regards to station placement (apart from Taipei - the others are all about 20 mins from the "real" location) - however, the whole system is great.

The trouble with HS2 is that because of the distance the stations are from where people want to be the real time saving on a journey from London to Manchester is 10-20 mins, which isn't very good value for money at £32Bn and it will ruin the quality of life for thousands of people that are directly affected by the route.

 

[AgnessGP]

Iv got a bit of a different take on things to be honest.

Its not the cost/times/distance that concerns me - not really thought about it.

But the thing that strikes me is the time it will take to implement.

In the past 30 years, a lot has changed in terms of technology. In the past 10 years, the internet has evolved dramatically, allowing us to do so much more online.

By the time this is made, we will probably be able to send smells or something via internet, so who knows what will be around then. Trains may not be required anymore (they probably will though)

What if most people begin working from home, as I do a lot now. This will mean less people on trains - therefore eliminating the need for extra capacity.

So much could happen in the time it will take to becoming functioning and as a result, this investment could come at a huge, huge loss.

 

[pooroldcodger]

10 years ago in China they completed the creation of an entire new region of Shanghai from what was basically useless land. The "new" area, "The Pudong" is now home to the international airport as well as the financial district. In order to keep connecting times to the airport attractive they built a "Maglev" train (yes the technology that we invented), and the 30km journey takes 8 minutes. The train can run at 500kph, but its daily routine speed is 430kph. I have ben on it. It's amazing.This took 3 years, but remember, what China wants to build - well it justs builds it and to hell with the consequences.
This is real speed and technology progress.
In my opinion HS2 is not good enough for the money.
Before I spent that amount of borrowed money, I would want to see what we could achieve on the current network with double decker electrified trains, and also running some trains Manchester to London with non or fewer stops.

 

[pooroldcodger]

Sorry - I have "been" on it. Ben was no there, honest!

 

[scout]

Sorry - I have "been" on it. Ben was no there, honest!

Ben was NOT there surely

 

[dave]

I'm guessing then this is just like the HSR (High Speed Rail) system we have here in Taiwan.

Same sorta issues in regards to station placement (apart from Taipei - the others are all about 20 mins from the "real" location) - however, the whole system is great.

Trains hit around 280kph - and bring journey times down from 3 hours to about 1 hour 10 (depending on where you are going of course).

does it still run if there are leaves on the track, do you get the wrong type of snow over there?

 

[arc]

but remember, what China wants to build - well it justs builds it and to hell with the consequences.

quite

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenzhou_train_collision[/ame]

 

[Eklipze3k]

See I can understand the point of HSR in a massive country like China, but we're only a tiny little island, it just seems utterly pointless to me.

 

[ben]

See I can understand the point of HSR in a massive country like China, but we're only a tiny little island, it just seems utterly pointless to me.

Taiwan's only 5 hours top to bottom in the car - and I love the HSR here!

I dunno about the massive costs or whatever, but instead of looking at the time saved in mins, look at the percentages...

 

[scout]

Oh you mean the fact that less than 1% of the population will benefit from the investment of £32Bn from 100% of the tax paying population, which will then have to carry on subsidising it to. Personaly I still don't like it.