HS2 Route - Burton Green to Balsall Common

A corrected version of the requested route from Burton Green (52.3807, -1.6063) to Balsall Common (52.3943, -1.6367) on December 20th 2022.

[@bertiewoost]

Thanks Michael for re filming this section of Hs2, obviously the light is much better on this occasion. This section is worth re filming due to the fact you have the construction of the "green tunnel" at Burton green one end and the construction of the west coast mainline underbridge at Balsall common the other end. Many Thanks 👍

[@EdgyNumber1]

Sorry Michael, I had a double take on your last name and thought I saw Michael 'Winner.' 😆 Great video. Progress seems to be slowly chugging along. At my end in Birmingham, it seems they are moving full steam ahead, casting the pylons for the viaduct into Curzon Street Station. Even though it seems nothing is happening its gaining ground. I expect more progress to occur over the next couple of years.

[@MichaelSmith-bi8pc]

Michael, a really interesting stretch of Railway which makes no sense from the ground but you get some idea what has been done from the air and is required to be done. Thank you for that filming as I was always frustrated by the fact you hadn't filmed the section closer to home. Massive project with plenty to do still.

[@mikekwarner]

I generally only go out one day every couple of months to do some filming - it has to be a weekend day with good weather when I've not got anything else on - so I only really have time for two flights close to home. It was certainly interesting to do this further section though. Now it's all programmed in I'll likely do it again, albeit at a slower cadence than my regular routes.

[@MichaelSmith-bi8pc]

@Michael Warner oh when I said 'and is required to be done' I meant what HS2 has got to do; no pressure on you and your work carried out. Thank you again and if you ever put a link on for buying you a drink I would donate. Kindest regards

[@mikekwarner]

@@MichaelSmith-bi8pc that's ok, I understood your meaning 😁

[@willlister9825]

Interesting comparing the size of the footprint of HS2 with the old victorian-era L&NWR line that it partially swallows up!!!

[@paulbigland8655]

Yes. We've learned an awful lot about soil dynamics since the Victorian era! Plus, a lot of land is currently being used for storage of material that will eventually form part of the landscaping of HS2 once it's complete. This land will be returned to nature or agricultural use afterwards. One needs to compare how HS1 looked when it was being built to how it looks now.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

The LNWR Route from Birmingham to London will still operate independant of the HS2 route when it opens

[@steveohara8399]

Look to the right at 1.10 and to the left at 11.00 and you can see, just to the north of the structure with the bright blue roof, one of the MagLev cars from the B'ham airport to Bham International magnetic levitation line.

[@edwardtreadwell3859]

It hasn't been maglev for many years. It's now a standard monorail system.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

@@edwardtreadwell3859 It isn't a monorail system either it is similiar to what operates at LAX in America it operates on a guided wheel system pulled by a high speed cable, the last momorail that operated in the UK operated at the Mery Hill Shopping Centre in Brierly Hill West Midland which closed years ago and was dismantled and shipped to Dubai, even this when HS2 is opened will be altered and extended to travel between Birmingham Airport, Birmingham International Railway Station on the existing WCML route, the NEC and Birmingham Interchange Station on the HS2 line

[@ianwilliamson4431]

Would love to see footage over the Bickenhill area if you have anything

[@mikekwarner]

Right under Birmingham Airport's flight path eh 😅

[@ianwilliamson4431]

@@mikekwarner I suppose that's why there isn't any footage of this

[@mikekwarner]

@@ianwilliamson4431 yes, you can't fly drones in the airport's restricted air space, as shown on the map below. Indeed, most drones won't even allow you take off here. www.birminghamairport.co.uk/about-us/community-and-environment/drone-safety/drone-safety-at-birmingham-airport/

[@pedromorgan99]

@michaelwarner Can i ask a stupid question. Within the video stream, is it possible to encode the drone position, ie lat/lng and direction mainly. Cunning plan is to create a "hs2-central" and kinda autogenerate a website of progress..

[@mikekwarner]

I can't imagine YT allows any metadata to be included in the video stream and even if it was, how would you access and interface with it.

[@jondent3392]

Just before you turn the drone around you are about to go over Truggist lane .. I dont suppose you have any footage crossing Truggist lane ? Preferably in both directions ... I only ask as I live there - thx

[@mikekwarner]

No, sorry. This is as far as I have ever been towards Birmingham.

[@pedromorgan99]

Here's VR of original: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4Pccmuhdtmrrrc

[@frasermitchell9183]

The Plan and Profile map points to a rail underbridge at Carol Green near Balsall Heath, but the drawing shows what looks like a box construction. The land take is huge; I hope they return most of it, although there is a wide embankment to raise HS2 up to pass over the existing railway. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/529817/C224-ARP-CV-DPP-040-320300-FPD.pdf

[@MarkThrushton]

Quick correction, Fraser... it's Balsall Common (Balsall Heath is an inner suburb of Birmingham, and isn't part of the HS2 route)

[@frasermitchell9183]

@@MarkThrushton Sorry ! And to think I used to live in Birmingham and used to ocasionally use the A452 through Balsall Common

[@michaelstevens3479]

After they have installed enough wind turbines and solar panels to run the railway we should be rid of those trees and the nasty green stuff.

[@edwardtreadwell3859]

Absolutely agree. The destruction is vast and devastating and can never be returned to how it was.

[@howardjones6752]

Perhaps you should get out more, this country has more than enough trees and green stuff.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

The turbibnes you are on about don't just power our Railways they power your home and the rate things are going we will need more Nuclear Power Stations and as Powered pwers statons as our Natioal Gtid wont cope on propellers alone

[@AndrewRoberts11]

2020 estimates (pre pandemic, working from home, Ukraine invasion, economic crisis, ...), Phase 1A LondonBirminghams: length 134 miles, opening 2037/8, capital costs £98 bn, annual fixed operating costs £4.3bn, forecast ridership, 15,439 single trips a day, across the 342, eight car, train sets that will run at 6 min intervals, in both directions, between 05:00 and 23:59, or ~45 passengers per train, 6 per carriage. Though with a Single, Standard class, London Birmingham return ticket, to work out at £4,850, before Tax payer subsidies, i doubt you'll see the forecast 2.3 million return tickets sold a year. A family could easily buy and insure a new car, for less than the cost of 4 return tickets, let alone charter a helicopter, that would save time, and money.

[@AndrewRoberts11]

As YT hates links: "Regarding the number of passengers that are forecast to transfer to HS2, a figure for the daily sum of one-way journeys between Central London and Birmingham for 2037/38 was included in the HS2 PFM v7.1 Forecasting Report published by HS2 Ltd and used to support the 2017 Business Case. This figure - 15,429 - represents the total sum starting or finishing at both of the locations, so halving produces a reasonable approximation of assumed one way flow." From: Current passenger numbers from Birmingham to London on West Coast mainline and expected numbers on HS2 - a Freedom of Information request to Department for Transport - reference number P0018587. Or: "The current estimated cost of completing High Speed 2 is between £72-98 billion (2019 prices)," From: No clear end in sight” to HS2 cost or delays with “many difficulties ahead” - committees . parliment . gov . uk Or: "Helicopter flights between Birmingham and London can be completed in just 45 minutes, and you'll travel in luxury with all your requirements taken care of by your dedicated flight manager." From: Atlas Helicopters web page. Or: "The government says HS2 will cut Birmingham to London journey times from one hour 21 minutes, down to 52 minutes" From: "HS2: What is the route, when will it be finished and what will it cost?" BBC Or: " ... run from London to Birmingham over 134 miles, through 31 miles of tunnels and over 10 miles of viaducts ..." From: HS2inBirmingham

[@paulbigland8655]

You making up numbers will stop HS2 how?

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

You are guessing at numbers as the truth of the fact is that who ever at the moment travels from Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Scotland on Avanti West Coast Service to London Euston will when HS2 opens the trins will be diverted onto the HS2 route as Avanti West Coast trains will be the sole operator of HS2 services and will also operate some services on the existing WCML route, the word anorak comes to mind

[@AndrewRoberts11]

Most of the numbers are from the HS2 Business Case, the ridership figure from a posted Freedom of Information request, so not my guesses. The speculation as to whether there will be many a family of 4-8, using the service, to visit a couple of London's free museums at the weekend, is mine.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

@@AndrewRoberts11 May be so, but as the operator of the HS2 services will be Avanti West Coast trains or the incubent operator of the West Coast Route at the time, all or most of the high speed services from the North and Birmingham will transfer to the HS2 route so garrunteeing high passenger figures on this line from when it opens so every one from Tourists to Business people will be using the HS2 route irrelevant of the HS2 business case that was drawn up years ago to prove the viability of building HS2 in the first place at the beginning

[@jacquesmertens3369]

OK, not being British I should perhaps not comment. It's not my tax money down the drain. But I can't help noticing the HS2 has been announced as a project for the north of England when in reality it's just a fast train between London and Birmingham, on a route that didn't need upgrading anyway. Is it worth 45 billion GBP and the destruction of properties, nature and wildlife to travel 29 minutes faster, when offices no longer need to be physically connected because everyone's working from home?

[@MrR0o]

I am British and live between Manchester and Leeds and you're spot on. It should have been built from the north down and when they run out of money scrap the Birmingham to London bit

[@GIOGS]

“In a route that didn’t need upgrading” - you should have a read into the capacity constraints on the west coast mainline. express, commuter and freight battling for the same piece track is resulting in an incredibly poor utilisation.

[@pedromorgan99]

No matter which part.. FUNDAMENTAlL is keeping fast.high velocity trains away from other traffic and conflicts.. At 200mph = a mile every 20 seconds.. u get there faster.. and also all trains can forumae#1 with good efficient performance up each others ass. HOWEVER, the side benefit is that now the olde lines, with all the "GEt outta my way" can now accomodate and estimates 100%++ more capacity;

[@pedromorgan99]

ENVY: I travelled on the shinkensen < 2k at 170mph++ extensively, music touring. Their now up to around 300kph+ kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZ6ZhX-EntmFZq8

[@frasermitchell9183]

So are all the countries that have already built their high speed lines closing them down "because everyone's working from home?" I think not !