HS2 & the Lichfield Canal Update

[@marilynbalderstone696]

I only joined this canal society a few months ago and they have made fantastic progress and as I’m an armchair cruiser only I really love seeing vlogs like this. Thank you.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

No problem, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ve got another on the Lichfield coming Saturday

[@LHCRT]

Thanks for coming and filming this!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thanks for letting me come!

[@williamlloyd3769]

Great update and details on future plans! Progress!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Insane progress as always!

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Thanks for the update! They really are going at a rate of knots!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

It’s speed boats, not narrowboats in Lichfield!

[@LHCRT]

🤣 thank you!

[@mikehindson-evans159]

A fascinating aerial picture at 6:49 - thanks for setting the scene. Good job that HS2 is in a cutting at the point where it crosses your canal. Most informative - thank you.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

It gives a good angle of how it will cross the canal, thanks for watching!

[@paulrandall9705]

Very good … enthusiastic, comprehensive, optimistic.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Enthusiastic and optimistic, that’s most canal restorations out there! I just wish the councils were more of the above!

[@shredwell2326]

greetings from the us, thanks for an informative video. good quality Super interesting to see the restoration of the canals and the old lock was cool....

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

There’s an old video I made with more on the lock, I’ll grab you a link. Thank you!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

It’s an older video so a little less well made! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZWxfHqJeddmjLcsi=HNejmFbdPSMWsd5a

[@shredwell2326]

@@CourtAboveTheCut Im going to try to come next summer and hire a boat for at least a week. Can you recommend a good starter canal/area to go where decent boats are available and more countryside than city and also pubs/stores along the way to get supplies and have a pint(s)? Yes I know that's a tall order but want a "low key" experience.....was going to do in 2019 but covid killed that idea. Cheers.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@shredwell2326 it really depends what you want to see, there’s some beautiful routes up north, most pass through cities. The Shropshire Union has some nice spots and head into wales. The kennet and Avon is also lovely, you could start near to Bath/Bradford on Avon and head through towards devizes and hungerford which takes in the Caen hill locks which is an amazing area.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for walking video today. Always an enjoyable video to see. Enjoy the week ahead. Cheers Steve! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Have a good one too, thanks for watching!

[@terryrigden4860]

Thank you for the update, it's great to see such excellent progress

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

It’s amazing my last video was only 3 months ago!

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

Great to see such amazing progress, thanks for sharing. Yes the quality of your video and audio is much better. I also think your skills are improving too, you’ll be better than the professionals soon 👍.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thanks, I’ve still got a lot to learn on editing, I was a bit of a technophobe before!

[@25mileswest86]

@@CourtAboveTheCut Your output is improving all the time. Audio and graphic additions add real value. Only thing I'm noticing on occasion, is the 'tightness' between speech and visuals. Sometimes this 'sync' can be off by a few steps and becomes a little unsettling; describing what's 'here' but the viewer is still seeing the tail end of something else (as a small example). But I know, editing is a big subject.! And hey, all that aside, your stuff is enjoyable to watch and engage with. Your personality, effort, enthusiasm and delivery of info wins me over every time..! Oh, did I mention the fab drone shots too..!? 😃

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@25mileswest86 that’s due to the camera, it’s something else I’m working on. It’s a 360 camera so I chose the angles in the edit but sometimes I don’t quite get the points right!

[@Razer68]

Excellent video (as always). Well done. Very informative and interesting. Rob C. 👍🏼

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you

[@edc1569]

How cool reusing old tunnel sections

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

It keeps it cheap!

[@nickthomas6923]

cool thank you

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

No problem

[@timlodge8267]

Great video thanks for the information.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thanks for watching

[@sheryld1957]

That is great to see! Thank you for the update!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thanks for watching!

[@jagman84]

There will be fewer express trains on the WCML so the congestion wont be as much as you fear. The trains from Manchester, joining at Colwich Jn., will only have a short run on the slows down to the HS2 link.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Those express trains are cancelled due to HS2 trains though which won’t stop at all stations, the point was to still run a fraction of the services or run more local trains, without the capacity increase this won’t be possible, the whole point of HS2, other than being slightly quicker, was to unlock the main network for freight to open up the midlands and the north, this won’t happen

[@PCMenten]

Thanks for the map.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

No problem

[@Jamesherd-po6ez]

It’s good to see the country hasn’t quite gone to the dogs,we can still build stuff.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

We are very capable at building just not at the costs side of things!

[@edwardedwards5402]

Interesting update. Many thanks.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thanks for watching!

[@25mileswest86]

Really nice/timely update Steve, thanks. Boy that's some engineering they're doing there for HS2... frustrating it's going to take another 3 years(?) before seeing the improvements for the canal here. This stretch all looks so great now, so tantalisingly close it seems to getting boats actually using it. But as far as I'm aware, there'll be no more effort in this whole area for some time now - at either end... Still, I know there's plenty more effort needed elsewhere - the volunteering never stops with this bunch.! Looking forward to next Saturday's vid of Old Lock 24 progress.! PS: - good viewing numbers for one day's posting...!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

It’s my best performing video ever, by quite some way! I think it’ll be more 5-7 which is frustrating! I guess it depends how long it takes them to dig the cut and start wanting to put track in, not to mention an election next year which may change things again. There are things in the pipeline, various planning and things been talked about behind the scenes, I’ll release stuff as I’m allowed to!

[@25mileswest86]

@@CourtAboveTheCut having 'HS2' in the title could be helping numbers... 🤔... regardless, all views welcome and good for the cause.! 😄

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@25mileswest86 my most viewed video to date has a very similar name and the title is the same just without update, I said to the team from the canal trust when I was doing it that I’m including HS2 in it as it pulls in more viewers which benefits everybody. It’s on nearly 8K views now which advertises the great work the canal trust are doing to a wide audience

[@DavidKnowles0]

@@CourtAboveTheCut If Labour wins, I see them deciding that will spend money putting in enough infrastructure so that all parts of HS2 can be built eventually, even if they don't instantly recommit to building a dedicated high speed lines to Manchester and leeds. The land permanently protected. So this junction will be built to the original spec, Manchester will get a underground through station design for HS2 and HS3. The tunnels will be built to Euston, even if the station itself don't start construction until 2030s as Manchester and HS3 is priorities.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@DavidKnowles0 from what I hear they’ve already sold of a lot of the land they’d purchased for the next phase. I’m unsure how much truth there is in that though

[@howardjones6752]

Thanks

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you so much for your support

[@dudleycoveney9085]

“ This is where we were the last time we were here” 😂😂😂😂

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I’ve had multiple visits so it’s technically right 😂😂

[@RedRouge-j4j]

Geeze I can remember when the Canal Society (as it was then known), asked volunteers for a review and estimate for how much it would cost, if I remember all the way from Catshill Junction to Fradley. Murmerings of pointless and the impossibility were admitted but the insistence it was carried out, regardless. It's that kind of doggedness that has persisted thus far, including the dry aqueduct across the M6 Toll. A road I have never used. Oh the irony. ................ Don't ask how long ago!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I'm glad some persevered as it's now the most exciting canal restoration in the country. If you don't already follow them they have a KZbin channel as well. Unfortunately I can't tag them in the comments

[@johncamp2567]

Very interesting!! (new subscriber, Virginia)

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you and thanks for the sub!

[@redhmanchesteruk.]

Love the videos.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you

[@simoncroft9792]

Great update but leave th map on screen a bit longer please! Might be useful to show it at the beginning too.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Would you like me to send it? My emails at the bottom of the description, I’m happy to send it

[@gordanmilne7034]

Great update but at 5:45, Cubic Centimetres or Metres?

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Yeah I think it’s metres, I can’t find my original source! I nearly cut it out, I probably should have really

[@joncawte6150]

What is the length thus far and how much more is being done?

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

500 metres I’d say. They are waiting for things to be in place but there’s potential to do some more bits. Then it’s just waiting for HS2 to be done and it’ll be connected to the Coventry Canal at Huddlesford junction. This is potentially around 2027

[@TheDiverat]

Great informative vlog we need more canals and less HS2its becoming a farce.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

They could have restored almost all of the active restorations with the money spent on HS2 and created thousands of miles of nature corridors and generated billions for the local economies and health and well being benefits.

[@hughroney6342]

Is this about Canals or Trains?? Rather hard to tell from talk and pictures

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I’m a canal vlogger, I cover this section of HS2 as it directly impacts the canal restoration

[@simon-oy6um]

What gets me is most of the work is done by volonteers so that faceless people hiding behind doors get fat salaries out of it 😢😢

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

The difference is the volunteers do it so everyone can enjoy it, the fact some fat cat sits and reaps the benefits is just the toxic nature of our governance

[@boldford]

I'm intrigued why HS2 paid for it.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Because they are destroying the canal and a bridge for the canal, why shouldn’t they?

[@boldford]

The canal and a bridge? Please explain in a little more detail.@@CourtAboveTheCut

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@boldford the cappers lane bridge was rebuilt a few years ago, HS2 are going across the canal destroying the bridge and the canal line. The canal can’t carry on on its original route as the HS2 line drops here. It has to go a little further down. They are destroying what’s their so need to replace it. They can’t just cut through infrastructure and not replace it, it’s Jo different to where they cut through a road or railway

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

*no different

[@boldford]

@@CourtAboveTheCut Got it thank you! I assume there is a previous video that illustrates this as clearly as your post above describes.

[@gatecrasher1970]

nobody cares for trains

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I love trains but this channel is about canals. I cover this section as it has an impact on the canal

[@JohnSmith-xl8cb]

More people will use the canal than the train😂😂that stopes 8 mile from central London😂😂

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

That’ll change before the north gets HS2

[@DavidKnowles0]

@@CourtAboveTheCut The tunnels to Euston will get done because TBMs are already being built an are due to be delivered next year, an the factory that produce the tunnel sections is already operating and producing sections for other tunnels along the route. To keep TBMs underground for long term or to allow the factories close would just drive up costs.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@DavidKnowles0 that’s the weird thing about all of this, the costs are largely there, contracts will still have to be paid for large sections where work has started, that’s all wasted money if it doesn’t continue. I agree that things will change after the election, the tories need to go

[@DavidKnowles0]

@@CourtAboveTheCut My personal prediction if Labour get into power, is that They will cancel the land sale straight after getting into office. An move to permanently protect it. They will tell HS2 to complete the work around Birmingham as if the line will be going all the way on towards Manchester and Leeds and Crewe, so everything is there for further extension into the future. Euston Tunnels will get the go ahead pretty soon after Labour take power. The station will still be pause as they hope to getting private investors on board. There main priority will be getting Manchester through station built, with the infrastructure work done to accommodate HS2 extensions and HS3 .