HS2 Construction Progress - Calvert to Quainton, May 2024

[@ogo2l]

Good Video and great choice of music, very appropriate .

[@theboy-uk]

Thanks. It was like Chopin predicted this construction project when he composed the music!

[@theboy-uk]

@@martinsloman6905 Not the first time I've used it. It truly is a great composition. And very appropriate.

[@isaac.raskin]

0:40 School Hill Green Overbridge 1:30 Calvert Green Overbridge 2:18 Footpath SCL/13 Green Overbridge 2:32 Sheephouse Wood Mitigation Structure 3:14 Footpath CAG/2 Underbridge 4:00 Bridleway GUN/28 Green Overbridge 4:38 Bridleway QUA/36 Green Overbridge 5:36 Adam's Underbridge 6:04 Edgcott Road Overbridge 6:40 Footpath QUA/26 Underbridge 7:30 Bridleway QUA/28A Overbridge

[@theboy-uk]

Superb, thanks for that

[@ladyintheskyuk]

Nicely captured 👌 👍

[@theboy-uk]

Thanks! Though not much change since the one I did last September, progress is glacially slow :(

[@robodrone5662]

This kind of progress is fascinating.

[@theboy-uk]

If you watch the previous video of this stretch from last summer, its "spot the difference", LOL

[@robodrone5662]

@@theboy-uk I still see no difference.

[@theboy-uk]

@@robodrone5662 There's not much!

[@theboy-uk]

@@martinsloman6905 Even the most brainwashed HS2 fan would have to admit that construction progress on the stretches I've covered is unacceptably slow. I know said HS2 fans will try to blame it on NIMBY and environmentalists, but that is simply not the case on this stretch. We are over 4 years in on this section from when spades hit the ground - more time that the entire M40 extension took - and the current estimates for Curzon to Wormwood Scrubs section to open is 2030. The as yet unfunded £18bn extension into Euston is estimated to be 2042.

[@theboy-uk]

@@martinsloman6905 No, the M40 extension was from Milton Common to Birmingham. HS2 is being engineered to cost money, as its only purpose is to line the pockets of those involved. It's not needed, was never needed, and will have to be closed as the running costs are unbearable to a near bankrupt treasury.

[@ianhosier4042]

The music is very fitting for this debarcle

[@theboy-uk]

Absolutely, just don't let the brainwashed fans hear you say that though!

[@pedromorgan99]

So at 180mph+ = 20sec per mile .. its would take say 60 seconds to traverse this stretch. BTW travelled extensively on Japan.Shinkansen = #1

[@theboy-uk]

Trouble is, as a regular traveller on the existing 2 lines between London and Birmingham, I'll have whole trains nearly to myself - assuming they ever finish this vanity project before I retire - and the stretch to Euston is predicted to be more than a decade or more off!!

[@theboy-uk]

@@martinsloman6905 As well you know, I'm trying to get official figures from both lines, but they are both giving me the run around. But as a very, very regular user of both lines, I can tell you what I see. People claiming otherwise, I wonder how often they used both lines?

[@ianhosier4042]

@@theboy-uk every time I have travelled on the west coast mainline the trains have been pretty packed. I will probably be dead before this debarcle is finished lol.

[@theboy-uk]

@@ianhosier4042 Really? South of Birmingham? I use it frequently, and rarely find it busy outside of London bound morning peak.... Yeah, I'll most likely be retired before this mess opens.

[@sddsddean]

I used to be a Civil Engineer and I'm stunned. What the f**k have they been doing the last 3 years!!?? Loads of unnecessary works and not one bit of rail laid yet. Robert Stephenson did the London and Birmingham Railway in 4 years with guys using not much more than picks and shovels. This is progress??!!

[@theboy-uk]

I'm beyond staggered at lack of progress, and the cost of this non-progress on the taxpayer. The M40 extension from Oxford to Birmingham was done in under 4 years about 30 years ago, but this is an utter mess.

[@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg]

Using your civil engineeribg knowledge what is the unnecessary work ?

[@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg]

​@theboy-uk when they built the M40 there was a defined schedule of works to cost and build. With HS2 they are still putting the defined schedule of works together and costing it as they go.

[@sddsddean]

@@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg most of the works are way beyond the railway boundary. I live near and have worked on HS2 delivering materials, sometimes as much as two miles away from the line(!), but this is deemed as required works to placate local residents and landowners. Everybody trying to blame HS2 for their woes and managing to get them to pay for new roads etc. It’s all a total waste of money and I think I’ll be in my grave before a train runs on it!

[@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg]

​@@sddsddeanah yes third party requirements which are just one of dozens of unknown requirements the Contractors have to comply with. That’s why the project has been let on a cost plus basis because it is impossible to define the scope of works. And as it is impossible to define the scope of works it is equally impossible to put an accurate construction cost or construction programme in place.

[@davidharle952]

You must fly on a Sunday, either that or no one actually works. I hope I live to be 150 to see this completed. Personally I think they should just throw some soil over it and grass seed then plant a lot of trees. Then lay a bus service on lol. Loved the music, reminded me of the death march, very apt.

[@theboy-uk]

LOL! If I recall, most of that one was a Friday lunchtime into the afternoon, so pub o'clock for construction workers You'd be surprised how many get upset by Chopin's Funeral March!

[@JohnLavender]

Good Video, thank you for the update. But please, the choice of Music was Terrible! 😢

[@theboy-uk]

Pretty fitting I think ;)

[@BawlzOfuzz]

Shocking waste of money! Is this where my taxes are going?

[@theboy-uk]

And remember not just the construction, as HS2 will need a lot of taxpayer subsidy once up and running - 50-60% of each ticket will be from the taxpayer.

[@theboy-uk]

@@martinsloman6905 ultimately, it is the taxpayer having to pay up, even if the spike of it has to come from a (expensive) loan. It removes taxpayer money from other, infinitely more useful projects and services to one that exists purely as a vanity project for the rail industry.

[@theboy-uk]

@@martinsloman6905 Which one (KZbin doesn't make the comments that hierarchical) ? The 50-60% subsidy on each fare? That is the UK rail industry standard. And in the original business case proposal, HS2 promised to match that.

[@theboy-uk]

@@martinsloman6905 If the van did not provide the value required, then, yes, it would have to go. As I doubt the taxpayer would 100% fund the purchase of the van, and heavily subsidise its running costs ;)

[@theboy-uk]

@@martinsloman6905 If the van didn't offer sufficient benefit to the business, then of course it has to go. The business viability of such a decision has to be taken into account. HS2 should be run with a similar mindset, regardless of the fact some see it as having an bottomless pit of money available without realising the impact of using that money to the wider country. Given that HS2 has no purpose - known by all including HS2, shown by the fact it keeps coming up with random arguments for why its needed, none of which have any basis - it should never have been allowed to go this far, and hopefully our new Chancellor will use some sense and redirect the yet-to-be-wasted funds towards other transport projects, including sorting out the mess of many Northern cross Pennine routes! We already have one too many London to Birmingham routes.

[@garthcox4307]

I can never get over the width of the sites and the amount of earth moving going on given that a double track railway is pretty narrow. It's almost like the contractors are doing unnecessary work to rip off the taxpayer. But that would never happen lol. It's environmental vandalism.

[@theboy-uk]

Exactly. It seems all about making as much work as possible for as long as possible, and milky this gravy train - no pun intended!

[@GeoffCousins-h4s]

I thought space alongside HS2 is being left for an Aylesbury to Calvert link for East-West Rail - effectively making this a 4 track space. To add - also sidings for rail access to the waste disposal site - so taking some lorries off the road . So calling it vandalism is wide of the mark .

[@theboy-uk]

@@GeoffCousins-h4s HS2 Ltd are unlikely to release the land for that, hence the Aylesbury Varsity Line link has been kicked into the long grass, despite being massively more useful than HS2.

[@garthcox4307]

@@GeoffCousins-h4s I meant the space along the entire 100 miles, not a specific area

[@theboy-uk]

@@martinsloman6905 The width of land grabbed was always intended, and is *nothing* to do with the minor changes that HS2 rightly chose to make to some small sections, following (mostly) valid concerns after the public consultations.

[@boblovell5789]

See vid by HS2 SKY View Warwickshie 8th July 24 for alternative comments. My critical comments got somewhat crushed.Well we are all entitled to our views but when a civil engineer ain't too impressed really that,in my opinion, says it all.

[@theboy-uk]

Yeah, but the whitewashed Pro HS2 brigade are very passionate and fail to see any common sense ;)

[@imranwahabkhan]

Project HS2 is flop ( when it started back in 2012 completion projected year was 2026!) Where’s the AUDIT!? Which all companies are involved??? What’s their initial bid??? What’s the current scope and how much amount they have raised from banks?? Or paying from their capital!!???

[@theboy-uk]

The money side is easy. Every time they need money, they get it off the hard working taxpayer.

[@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg]

The Contractors don't submit a bid because the scope of works is unknown. When things become known they submit a price for those things.

[@theboy-uk]

@@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg No contract should be granted without a semi-defined cost, and clauses for unknowns. This was just open ended, using the taxpayer's wallet.

[@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg]

​@theboy-uk generally I agree and contracts are not let like that. But if the works cannot be defined there is no other way of delivering the project. It's like you asking me to give you a price for building a building when you don't know what you want.

[@theboy-uk]

@@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg All contracts I've been involved in - which aren't this sort of construction - a fairly tight requirements document is agreed by both parties, with clauses for changes. Also, penalties for late delivery. Strikes me that this one is an open ended open wallet approach, and everyone looks surprised when the initial proposal had it at around £23-26bn (depending what page you looked on) for all of Phase 1 and Phases 2a/2b. And then utter surprise when that was all blown before a spade had hit the ground.

[@CRIMSONANT1]

Nothing but a monstrous blot on the landscape & a complete & utter waste of billions of pounds.

[@theboy-uk]

Remember, that's billions of *OUR* pounds poured into this, and that's before you consider how much taxpayer subsidy HS2 needs once opened. A colossal waste of money when the existing 2 lines between London and Birmingham have excessive capacity aside from London bound morning peak, and have the capability of only being a few minutes slower than HS2.

[@keithrookledge2031]

Awful music and no commentary!

[@theboy-uk]

I purposely don't comment on the video, as the intention is for a record of construction. Commentary would naturally contain my own views on the project. Music is very appropriate for this white elephant ;)