GRcade

Here's a rather informative article about HS2.
https://www.constructionenquirer.com/20 ... 2-phase-1/

Clearly the most important overlooked aspect is that the trains have a nice livery. Not like Thameslink, who seemingly looked up at the sky one day and thought 'our trains should be as drab and miserable looking as the London skyline on a winter's day'.

No doubt Boris will get them all branded up in the Union Jack and give them really embarrassing names:

"The Leave Means Leave 17:32 from London to Birmingham will depart shortly"
"Please can all passengers on today's No Deal Express report any suspicious activities or people with a funny tinge."
"The Sport Are Troops to Manchester line is running 7 minutes late due to the EU conspiring against our brave British train drivers"

KK wrote:Clearly the most important overlooked aspect is that the trains have a nice livery. Not like Thameslink, who seemingly looked up at the sky one day and thought 'our trains should be as drab and miserable looking as the London skyline on a winter's day'.

If speed is such an important thing I'm shocked they haven't gone with a go faster stripe.
It's extra speed for the cost of some paint.

Peter Crisp wrote:

KK wrote:Clearly the most important overlooked aspect is that the trains have a nice livery. Not like Thameslink, who seemingly looked up at the sky one day and thought 'our trains should be as drab and miserable looking as the London skyline on a winter's day'.

If speed is such an important thing I'm shocked they haven't gone with a go faster stripe.
It's extra speed for the cost of some paint.

They should paint them red as Ork battle wagons always move faster if they're red.

Lex-Man wrote:

Peter Crisp wrote:

KK wrote:Clearly the most important overlooked aspect is that the trains have a nice livery. Not like Thameslink, who seemingly looked up at the sky one day and thought 'our trains should be as drab and miserable looking as the London skyline on a winter's day'.

If speed is such an important thing I'm shocked they haven't gone with a go faster stripe.
It's extra speed for the cost of some paint.

They should paint them red as Ork battle wagons always move faster if they're red.

For maximum speed, each train should be carrying a knife, and moving diagonally.

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:

Lex-Man wrote:

Peter Crisp wrote:

KK wrote:Clearly the most important overlooked aspect is that the trains have a nice livery. Not like Thameslink, who seemingly looked up at the sky one day and thought 'our trains should be as drab and miserable looking as the London skyline on a winter's day'.

If speed is such an important thing I'm shocked they haven't gone with a go faster stripe.
It's extra speed for the cost of some paint.

They should paint them red as Ork battle wagons always move faster if they're red.

For maximum speed, each train should be carrying a knife, and moving diagonally.

This train design stuff is a piece of piss. I don't know why they haven't implemented these obvious ideas already given how much we pay them .

I'd rather we spend a fraction of the cost to make the trains on my 30 minute commute not drop like flies the minute it gets over 20c

I kind of like the idea of improving the rail system but it seems like there's a lot to go of down sides hidden in the small print. Also it's hardly a cutting edge system and it's not going to be ready for years.

Preezy wrote:No doubt Boris will get them all branded up in the Union Jack and give them really embarrassing names:

"The Leave Means Leave 17:32 from London to Birmingham will depart shortly"
"Please can all passengers on today's No Deal Express report any suspicious activities or people with a funny tinge."
"The Sport Are Troops to Manchester line is running 7 minutes late due to the EU conspiring against our brave British train drivers"

This is the only coherent argument I've ever heard against HS2.

I'd rather they focused on Crossrail 2 as the Northern line tube is a horrible experience.

In theory focusing on HS2 in reverse order sounds good but it's years behind on the Birmingham to Manchester section so just means delaying the whole thing. The London to Birmingham section is "shovel ready".

I also think we'll probably have self driving electric cars by the time it's finally built which will provide a far more pleasant and faster overall journey depending on where you start and end the journey e.g. Wolverhampton to Wimbledon.

I think overall I'm in favour of it but it does seem like an unbelievable amount of money with the potential to be a white elephant.

HS2 is insane. Wasting tens of billions where there is no evidence of demand and not even bothering to properly connect it to existing hubs.

Just think what could be done with that kind of money if they used it to modernise and expand creaking infrastructure within the north of England. It doesn't even make sense politically because the only place it has any real support is with Londoners (I don't know why, but I think it's probably just because my fellow lefties seem to have a train fetish and high speed rail is basically porn for them).

To be fair though, it will likely benefit London as it will make commuting to the capital a lot more viable for more people. Maybe that's the government's real aim?

Meep wrote:HS2 is insane. Wasting tens of billions where there is no evidence of demand and not even bothering to properly connect it to existing hubs.

I find this interesting - how are you defining that there's no demand? I've not really followed the project, but I thought it was universally accepted that our trains aren't frequent enough, fast enough nor have the capacity needed for now let alone 30 years from now.

While not everyone might be specifically demanding HS2, it feels there is plenty of demand for something.

That's not a growth wrote:

Meep wrote:HS2 is insane. Wasting tens of billions where there is no evidence of demand and not even bothering to properly connect it to existing hubs.

I find this interesting - how are you defining that there's no demand? I've not really followed the project, but I thought it was universally accepted that our trains aren't frequent enough, fast enough nor have the capacity needed for now let alone 30 years from now.

While not everyone might be specifically demanding HS2, it feels there is plenty of demand for something.

I get the train from Birmingham to London every now and then. They're packed to bursting and there are clearly significant numbers of people who would benefit from being able to shave 1-2 hours off a return journey.

Half the current trains take 2 hours each way at the moment — scoffing at a therefore 2 hour reduction to a return journey as 'not worth it' is not a view that will be shared by thousands of passengers.

But the Virgin service is an hour and 25 minutes and you can reserve a seat

Frank wrote:But the Virgin service is an hour and 25 minutes and you can reserve a seat

Yes I know, but it's not always available at the right time, especially if you're not willing to pay a premium.

I'm in favour of HS2 but I'm surprised they didn't just go with maglev instead of high speed rail.

Some good news here https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51512831
I hope the government do hire the Chinese to build it, seems a no brainier if they can do it for cheaper in a shorter space of time and with faster trains!
Also China has a brilliant track record for high speed rail.

No:1 Final Fantasy Fan wrote:Also China has a brilliant track record for high speed rail.

Please tell me that pun was intentional.

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:

No:1 Final Fantasy Fan wrote:Also China has a brilliant track record for high speed rail.

Please tell me that pun was intentional.

Haha no it wasn't