I haven't attended any of HS2's information roadshows, and I don't watch the promotional videos - like I say, why would I? They're not designed for me. I'm very interested (as an amateur enthusiast, I guess) in transport planning and engineering, so I follow engineers and transport planners and see what they have to say. And I look at the reports, documents and plans produced by either the people who design things or those whose opinions I've come to respect. You'll never find me attending a presentation by a cabinet minister or a senior civil servant or an MP or an engagement officer, because I basically don't trust them, but you will find me going through anything relating to public transport published by people 'at the source', so to speak. And that means the people who actually put the leg work in, and produce these document packs which the cabinet ministers and the MPs and the engagement officers mangle every time they try to spin them. I know that this is a bit (or very) sad, and I've been told that on many occasions by my friends, but frankly I find studying service patterns and maps a pretty entertaining way to while away an afternoon. And at least I can do it from the comfort of my home rather than having to go out and see the aforementioned manglers get things wrong and then fail to answer any questions. I'm not always going to get it right, because I'm nowhere near a professional in these matters, but I'm pretty confident I'll get it right a lot more than somebody who's seen a presentation by somebody who's been briefed by anybody who's been appointed by the likes of Chris Grayling. Also, your first paragraph is just not true. I don't know where "Blair wanted a Maglev" comes from, but it honestly pains me to say that even he wasn't that stupid. Like I said above, look at what Network Rail came back with after High Speed 2's initial findings in 10/11. Everybody knew that brand new lines were needed, even then. The WCML upgrade fiasco demonstrated that bringing existing services up to scratch just wasn't a viable option. (Edited this postscript out because I don't think it's fair to drag anybody else in to the argument!)
A good little read for anyone that doesn’t really understand HS2 and what it’s trying to achieve. The guy in this blog is simply shutting down some comments presented as ‘facts’ by a Guardian columnist. https://paulbigland.blog/2021/08/04/simon-jenkins-latest-anti-hs2-tosh-examined/
I get the argument for HS2. I just feel there are shorter term fixes that are being dismissed. Extra trains on certain routes and better timetabling for starters. Railways run for passengers rather than where the DMU's next run is.
I read this debate with interest and came to the conclusion that the clever money will be invested in local light railway systems that link car dealerships!
You could increase capacity by a significant amount by adding an extra couple of carriages to all services - without spending £100bn on it.
But then it slows things down when discharging passengers at stations where the platforms are too short.
The train that infuriates me most is the 7:24 Sheffield to York. It arrives at Pontefract at 8:12 and York at 8:48. It serves no purpose at all. It isn't off peak so is no good for leisure travellers and no good for workers because it doesn't get anywhere in sufficient time before a shift starts before 8am or 9:00am. It would be better timetabled to arrive at York for 8:20. I live in Rotherham but don't catch it because it means I'll be late for work when I'm on duty. It's clearly just a case of stock being moved around. Hence most workings on that line being just about empty.
Sestren...with all due respect I wish you would perhaps not just say " is just not true" when it actually is true but perhaps you just haven't come across it. Blair came back from China massively impressed by Maglev....the technology for which was invented by Britain's Eric Laithwaite. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/feb/18/transport.world
Whilst we're on this, I feel for the staff, but I feel a better Sunday service is required in Barnsley on a Sunday - particularly early mornings which I understand was partly caused by the crossing of Jumble Lane staff. Later trains from London too - every few hours through the night. Yes, they'd take longer and they'd be shorter and stop at more places and need to be re-routed for work, but I think it's needed. Same with airport services (thinking from Sheffield here as the Sheffield - Manchester (pre covid) routes were packed and uncomfortable at all times.
I'd introduce link lines (curves, spurs, junctions whatever you want to call them) and have circular services linking major towns.
Never understood why Friday and Saturday night trains finish so much earlier than weekday ones… or at least they used to…
They do, it was embarrassing having to ask to leave work early on those days when coming back to Barnsley (from Sheffield).
It needs to be borne in mind that Paul Bigland is not exactly an independent observer, he makes his money from HS2 and many of the companies set to build HS2.....these people have been quite beneficial to him.
Last train back to Leeds is at 9:35 on a Friday and Saturday. I know because I had to sleep in a bus stop one year after a match.
