Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
Sir John Thompson was at the TSC today this is my precis from listening to it as no hansard update has yet been issued
Reports civils are over 50% complete now. Tenders back for railway systems and will be awarded by summer.
Doesn't see Handsacre as an issue with stopping of phase 2 - thats from the perspective of HS2 connecting to WCML what happens after that is NRs problem.
Construction material costs +27% over last three years on average if the costs were in 2024 prices the forecast costs would be 60-66B (49-56B at 2019 prices currently used in progress reports)
Now says estimate was flawed as set too early - what on earth were all the consultants doing at great cost beggars belief then.
Despite having an act of parliament still get bogged down in local planning issues has delayed progress along with govt slowing them down so project is getting elongated.
Says trains will have to be 250m now not 400m unless Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly etc are rebuilt.
Cost plus contracts have 99% of risk loaded against HS2 ie taxpayer. Contractors also getting a straight fee on what they spend so no incentive to save cost.
1800 bore holes have to remediated before the HS2a land can be sold
advice to DfT is to not amend the rolling stock contract
Phase 2 cancellation issues that need resolving before HS2 can reforecast - do you want us involved in Euston, whose going to tunnel to Euston, is OOC to be downsized, is Eastern stub to be built (?) do you want to change Curzon street so its connected to local network to make better use of platforms there.
Says board had poor data when he joined - unbelievable statement what on earth were all the consultants doing - but they've sorted that which is why cost forecast has gone up. Reporting was qtrly now its monthly - again unbelievable statement of the previous mgt of HS2
Will now be a railway systems delivery only team was previously joined with stations and a chief railway office to integrate it all
200m will be spent by HS2 Ltd on no regrets work at Euston
There is lot still to unpick from phase 2a works which may mean many undertakings given in the act will still have to be fulfilled
Confirms speculation that a 2nd door per carriage will be required for dwell times
Mods:leave it to you if you want to merge into another thread but couldn't see a relevant one thats still open
Reports civils are over 50% complete now. Tenders back for railway systems and will be awarded by summer.
Doesn't see Handsacre as an issue with stopping of phase 2 - thats from the perspective of HS2 connecting to WCML what happens after that is NRs problem.
Construction material costs +27% over last three years on average if the costs were in 2024 prices the forecast costs would be 60-66B (49-56B at 2019 prices currently used in progress reports)
Now says estimate was flawed as set too early - what on earth were all the consultants doing at great cost beggars belief then.
Despite having an act of parliament still get bogged down in local planning issues has delayed progress along with govt slowing them down so project is getting elongated.
Says trains will have to be 250m now not 400m unless Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly etc are rebuilt.
Cost plus contracts have 99% of risk loaded against HS2 ie taxpayer. Contractors also getting a straight fee on what they spend so no incentive to save cost.
1800 bore holes have to remediated before the HS2a land can be sold
advice to DfT is to not amend the rolling stock contract
Phase 2 cancellation issues that need resolving before HS2 can reforecast - do you want us involved in Euston, whose going to tunnel to Euston, is OOC to be downsized, is Eastern stub to be built (?) do you want to change Curzon street so its connected to local network to make better use of platforms there.
Says board had poor data when he joined - unbelievable statement what on earth were all the consultants doing - but they've sorted that which is why cost forecast has gone up. Reporting was qtrly now its monthly - again unbelievable statement of the previous mgt of HS2
Will now be a railway systems delivery only team was previously joined with stations and a chief railway office to integrate it all
200m will be spent by HS2 Ltd on no regrets work at Euston
There is lot still to unpick from phase 2a works which may mean many undertakings given in the act will still have to be fulfilled
Confirms speculation that a 2nd door per carriage will be required for dwell times
Mods:leave it to you if you want to merge into another thread but couldn't see a relevant one thats still open