HS2 Construction Progress - Southam, January 2023

[@andrewjameson5918]

Thanks for the update. I appreciate you going out and flying your drone.

[@theboy-uk]

Thanks :)

[@krayzkatman1990]

In most countries high speed rail is a matter of national pride. I say to the detractors below, let's scrap it and add 2 lanes to the M40 instead

[@theboy-uk]

In the same way we don't need another London to Birmingham rail line, we don't need another London to Birmingham motorway. Nor do either need extra capacity. Sure other rail (and road) improvements and additions need to be made, but not London to Birmingham!

[@EdgyNumber1]

Looks awesome! Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see how far progress has gone in a years time.

[@theboy-uk]

There has been disappointing progress on this section in the 2+ years since they started, but hopefully that will change

[@alexanderwooldridgesmith6629]

Thanks for the overview, great update. I'm local to here and I really love how HS2 have built themsleves a loverly road for construction, while all the local lanes are full of wheel swallowing pot holes.

[@theboy-uk]

I was thinking exactly the same when I was editing this series of videos, considering the bash up roads I was having to drive up and down all day to capture the footage!

[@philclarke3203]

Exactly!! HS2... money no object, for the few! Stuff everyone else! 😡😡

[@StevieProton]

Lucky you - it's been pouring down every day this year up in the cold dark north.

[@theboy-uk]

We've had 1 dry day down here, so I took the opportunity to flatten a load of Mavic 3 batteries!

[@robodrone5662]

Thanks to such constructions you could fly for ages 😉

[@theboy-uk]

That's given me an idea, I wonder if I have enough footage from 2023 to stitch together a 10+ mile section of this railway construction....

[@robodrone5662]

@@theboy-uk 😳

[@chrisbray4322]

Hello again , I would like you tell me what i am looking at ,i know it's a new railway .

[@theboy-uk]

These videos are very purposely made without audio commentary in order to provide a reference to the building of HS2 in this area.

[@marvintpandroid2213]

Should have been built decades ago, but at least we are doing it now.

[@theboy-uk]

Apart from being able to say we have a "high speed rail" link from Birmingham to London, that then has links to some European cities (although the majority of UK voting public didn't want to play nicely with the Europeans), I'm struggling to see the benefit, as despite claims to the contrary, there are no capacity issues on the existing 2 routes outside of morning peak London bound (that HS2 can't solve), plenty of track slots for freight, and is only saving about 15mins on the journey (before the entity now called Network Rail manipulated the timetables to slow the other 2 routes down to make HS2 look more viable). It doesn't represent value for money to the taxpayer, nor is it "green", according to respectable organisations like the NAO,.

[@marvintpandroid2213]

@@theboy-uk Only part of the reason to build the line was speed, the more important part was a massive improvement in train sheduleing on other lines, including freight. I wasn't aware of a referendum for or against HS2, can you link me to the result of it, I must have been asleep. Are you claiming that Brexit is proof that people don't want HS2? Do you support Brexit by any chance? Just because you chose to not be aware of something does not make it true, I would also like evidence of the manipulation you are claiming and the NAO report. You are making lots of claims, maybe you should prove them.

[@theboy-uk]

@@marvintpandroid2213 Err? Who said anything about a referendum for HS2? Had there been, it would never have got going, as only a few people (me included) could actually make use of it, but everyone is stumping up a huge amount of money for it!

[@marvintpandroid2213]

@@theboy-uk Why do you keep repeating lies that have been disproved time and time again. You are only being dishonest with yourself. This has been funded from the bond market, not taxes, it hasn't cost you a penny.

[@theboy-uk]

@@marvintpandroid2213 Err, because the taxpayer is backing it. Any bonds sold to partially cover it are government (hence taxpayer) guaranteed, that's the point of bonds. This is also why the government keeps asking the NAO for reports - a cynic would say in the hope they get one that's agreeable! Its not free money from those deemed wealthy. However, we will clearly never agree, and sometimes its healthy to agree to disagree.

[@frasermitchell9183]

Here is the final layout after construction. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/532884/C223-CSI-CV-DPP-030-000002-FPD.pdf and for the tunnels assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/532883/C223-CSI-CV-DPP-030-000003-FPD.pdf The route under Long Itchington wood was originally to be a cutting, but was changed fairly early on to be tunnels.

[@bertiewooster3326]

It will be the biggest waste of money in an infrastructure project since the concept and building of the Maginot Line in France.I know.

[@theboy-uk]

LOL, yes, that was ill thought out as well!

[@cityzens634]

Great progress 😃🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@colincarr2052]

The White Elephant under construction. Joy. Tories gone mad.

[@theboy-uk]

Not sure we can blame this particular disaster on any single political party, as it was planned with New Labour backing, proposed during the coalition government, and put into law but the Tories.

[@nykesname]

nice film, like 52

[@davidharle952]

Another good one, in some parts I wonder, did the contractor bung the farmer a few quid? Just to make people think they were working, then get paid £billions. In other places it's like a massive industrial area has sprung up. It's like we are living in a different country, it's very wet and windy up here.

[@theboy-uk]

It's been a miserable few days here, far too wet and windy to even want to go out for a pleasant stroll, let alone get a drone out. Fortunately last Monday was a lovely, if cold, day down here.

[@Garner84]

Different sections of the railway move at different speeds.

[@theboy-uk]

@@Garner84 Indeed, some sections need more work than the easier sections, and will take less time. Bit of a shame they didn't stagger the starting of each section, with easier sections starting later, so as to reduce the amount of disruption in those easier areas, and to save costs by not having workmen and machinery sat around idle.

[@philclarke3203]

What a terrible unnesseary desrtuction of our countryside!! Can't imagine this much when they built the WCML all those years ago!

[@theboy-uk]

It's crazy how much land they need to build it. I know most of it will be returned to nature once construction is finished, but 400 year old oaks will take, errr, 400 years to grow! Also, with large areas being returned to unmanaged nature will mean a lot more animal impacts at 200mph. Its never been clear how HS2 intend to deal with this.

[@willhemmings]

Amazing how the width of the land take looks to be at least the size of a football stadium. No nineteenth century main line railway required that, just a simple seam running through the landscape with the hedges of the fields butting tightly to the boundaries. This looks like the government has employed an over enthusiastic Capability Brown wannabe to reshape the entire surrounding landscape. What should we expect to see when the London to Birmingham section is completed twenty years from now? Something like a pseudo Blenheim but with three metre high security fences and cheerless run off the production line precast concrete bridges the entire length, that makes no deference to the existing landscape, a railway that will be the worst of all worlds, a design by committee vulgar and nervous enterprise. Brunel, Telford and Ove Arup would laugh at the inelegance, a product of gross inefficiency and lack of confidence

[@theboy-uk]

I felt that was a well reasoned point of view, that is hard to disagree with. Thanks for taking the time to share your valid and valuable views.

[@willhemmings]

@@theboy-uk You are welcome, The Boy. I admire the work you are doing to record the progress of HS2. I filmed and photographed the entire London to Birmingham route in 2018, every mile of it, straight down the centre line; and would not recognise it now. I could not imagine the swathe of destruction would extend so far out. Serious questions must be asked

[@theboy-uk]

@@willhemmings Thanks. I don't think their business plan was viable, as it relied on them carrying just under 600,000 passengers a day, 365 days a year, between Birmingham and London, in order to meet the requirement of only about a £60 taxpayer subsidy per ticket.

[@joginns778]

All that land disruption just to knock off ten minutes of time from London to Birmingham from West coast railway time all those Billions of pounds gone to waist what a disgrace when there are other line's that need reopened great video work just shows us the damage they are doing to the country side,

[@theboy-uk]

I completely agree, I'd like to see that colossal amount of our taxpayer money spent on new routes and upgrades. Hence I'm generally in favour of EWR linking Oxford to Cambridge (although looks like the Cambridge end has been effectively cancelled on cost grounds), and ideally beyond. Or upgrading some of the trans Pennine routes. What we don't need is a 3rd Birmingham to London line. We didn't need it pre pandemic, and now the commuting world has changed forever, so certainly not needed now.

[@joginns778]

@@theboy-uk good news for you the Bedford to Cambridge line has got a share of five billion pounds to finish the job also hs 2 at Calvert have widened the embankment to allow the ayelsbury to bletchley to go ahead when and if the money can be Found so far track laying is on its way through Winslow from the bletchley end I understand the ewr route is to be used for port container trains if so it's good news for the North London line which is at breaking point,

[@theboy-uk]

@@joginns778 That's promising news, as it doesn't seem that long ago - in the last half of 2022 - that they had kicked the Bedford to Cambridge bit into the long grass. It would be great for the Chiltern line via Amersham to make it back to this line again, but as far as I know, there are no plans to finance this for the foreseeable future. I see EWR as a worthwhile project, a new (well, old, but not available for decades) route, linking otherwise unviable towns and cities, but also allowing these towns and cities to access other lines such as easy access to WCML at Bletchley/MK and Thameslink at Bedford.

[@joginns778]

@@theboy-uk it's not the matter of cost the Bedford to Cambridge it's more the matter that people in the area of the chosen routes want it but not in there back yards it's the same old story as you know these people who move into the countryside think they own everything they see what they don't want is new house's springing up in there villages this is a true story I live in a small town in the Cotswolds we had an idiot move here from the smoke within a week they complained to the farmers the cows mooing kept them awake how stupid can these people get,

[@theboy-uk]

@@joginns778 According to our BBC local news - probably the same as yours, from Southampton - the Bedford-Cambridge leg was on indefinite hold due to funding. Maybe, as you imply, maybe some senior civil servant living nearby and playing NIMBY. Sadly, I suspect following the new post pandemic world, many cities dwellers will want a more rural life, but not want the rural way of life :(

[@gellos32]

How did you received permission to fly outside of line of vision?

[@theboy-uk]

This clip is made up of several different flights on the same day, all from different positions, in order to comply with regulations. I'm glad the transitions are obviously not that noticeable!

[@tonyubr]

Absolute waste of time, money and above all valuable resources which could and should have been put to use elsewhere. I mean who on earth is going to use this service pray tell

[@theboy-uk]

Exactly. Ironically, I'm probably one of the very few people who can make use of it occasionally, but will mostly use the existing 2 lines as I live halfway along the route, but do travel occasionally between offices in Birmingham and London. And I'll have the luxury of a whole train to myself, as hardly anyone uses the existing lines all the way between the city centres.

[@datprawn4850]

What a waste of money, and look at what's happened now, ridiculous! Saw this a mile away.

[@theboy-uk]

Anyone with any common sense could see this was little more than a vanity project, to keep the rail industry busy at the taxpayer's expense.

[@CHRIS-xm1do]

Lot of plant ( sorry toys)with fresh paint, smells like anti HS2 propaganda.

[@theboy-uk]

LOL, yes, there seems to be a lot of unused machinery along many sections, been sat for the last 18 months and look unused... ...but maybe they wash and polish them after every use!

[@stephenchorley4374]

Good overview of the totally unnecessary waste of money and desecration of the countryside

[@theboy-uk]

I too remain unconvinced that this project is needed at all, and its certainly making a monumental mess of the surrounding area.

[@gellos32]

Grass tend to grow back quickly

[@theboy-uk]

@@gellos32 But 400yr old trees take, well, 400 years!

[@stephenchorley4374]

@@gellos32 wont grow over the tracks

[@lassepeterson2740]

What an environmental dissaster . What are they doing ?

[@theboy-uk]

Spending as much taxpayer money as possible.

[@thastayapongsak4422]

They are building a high speed railroad that will take millions of polluting cars out of the road and saving the environment in the long term. Better they waste tax on high speed rail than massive highways.

[@theboy-uk]

@@thastayapongsak4422 That's their promise. Reality is the existing 2 lines were only under 15 minutes longer, but were hampered by the fact hardly anyone wants to travel between Birmingham and London, as seen from the passenger numbers on the existing routes. So "millions of cars" is complete nonsense. In addition, HS2 has no green credentials according to all independent reports.

[@iman2341]

@@theboy-uknone of this is remotely correct and only takes a google to check….

[@theboy-uk]

@@iman2341 Indeed, it only takes a quick check. Before HS2 was proposed, WCML was 1hr12m, CML was 1hr20m. The entity now called Network Rail slowed this in order to make HS2 (who they entirely owned, and filled with their own staff, promoting them at the same time) look more viable. On the 2nd point, as a very regularly user of the 2 competing lines, hardly anyone goes from Birmingham to London, and the trains are near empty after a few stops. Remember, HS2's business case to "only" need 60% taxpayer subsidy on every full price fare is to carry just shy of 600,000 passengers a day, which at current rates based on ticket sales, looks like they will struggle to achieve 1% of. So whomever is writing on google that it will save millions of cars is lacking basic maths skills.

[@x17aerialconsultancy51]

Class videos. I need a chat with you, is there anyway I could email/text? Thanks

[@theboy-uk]

Thanks. What would you like to discuss?

[@x17aerialconsultancy51]

@@theboy-uk More videos haha!

[@theboy-uk]

@@x17aerialconsultancy51 Any requests can be popped into the comments of any of my videos for consideration 👍