For the fourth time since initial plans published in March 2010, the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) for HS2 has been revised downwards, the nearest official figures have come to admitting that the project will never make money. When the plans for the London to Birmingham section were first announced two years ago, the official BCR was 2.4, meaning that for every pound spent there would be £2.40 worth of benefits. When… Continue Reading
ARUP, the only firm which David Cameron mentioned in his infrastructure speech on 19th March, had a series of exclusive meetings with senior Tory politicians, including the Prime Minister, before being awarded a series of contracts worth £22m, after the decision to proceed with HS2 on January 10th. ARUP have continued to be awarded the lions’ share of HS2 contracts, since being originally appointed by Labour’s Lord Adonis to develop… Continue Reading
On Tuesday, the Government announced the National Planning Policy Framework, which sadly like the Communities Act will not apply to projects such as HS2 which has been automatically deemed to be in the ‘National Interests’. The planning framework, gives primacy to local plans but insists on ‘sustainable development’, leaving the interpretation of what is ‘sustainable’ very open. However, before it’s abolition in the cuts, the last statement which came from… Continue Reading
The national audit office has produced their long-awaited report into HS1, which has highlighted;
Passenger numbers have fallen far short of original forecasts.
Project costs exceed the value of journey time saving benefits.
Construction costs were 18% higher than target costs.
Passenger numbers were two-thirds of their forecast level.
The Department for Transport has no value to attribute to the project’s benefits as they have not yet developed a method… Continue Reading
Campaigners against HS2, then proposed high speed rail line have called on leaders and the general public in the East Midlands to wake up to the possibility that the location of a HS2 station between Nottingham and Derby will lead to them being joined up under Government plans for ‘garden cities’, due to be announced tomorrow (Tuesday 27th March 2012).
Speculation follows the assertion from HS2 Ltd Chief Engineer Professor… Continue Reading