£550m well spent. Kings Cross

[brixtonA23]

Yet to see it, but Doncaster away is only weeks away. St Pancras is a beautiful place to start an away day. The Betjemen bar at 9.00, drink in hand before heading north. Kings Cross an absolute disgrace for so many years but did wander through recently trying to work out why it took so long. The interior just stunning. The outside is looking fantastic apparently. Meet at Kings Cross is no longer a swear word or a place you have to say 'no change mate sorry' whilst waiting for friends from Sussex. £55 billion to save 20 minutes to Birmingham? I suggest cancelling and upgrade Euston. Then the last vestige of the football special from a god forsaken run down station can finally be put to bed.

 

[ali jenkins]

How has revamping Kings Cross saved 20mins on a trip to Birmingham?

 

[ozseagull]

How has revamping Kings Cross saved 20mins on a trip to Birmingham?

 

[beorhthelm]

you have to wonder exactly what cost £550m, these sorts of projects are far too expensive. they've done alot to the underground station, but still.

 

[Surf's Up]

Is the Flying Scotsman part of the revamp?!!

 

[Trufflehound]

you have to wonder exactly what cost £550m, these sorts of projects are far too expensive.

Should have got a team of Nepalese slaves in. That would have saved a few bob.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

£550m well spent.

£55 billion .

Which is it?

 

[Wozza]

Which is it?

 

[Bladders]

He's refering to HS2 with the 55 billion remark.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

Which is it?

If you're going to criticise someone, I suggest you properly read what they've written.

The OP was perfectly clear.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

He's refering to HS2 with the 55 billion remark.

It's terribly early. Sorry.

 

[Bladders]

Yet to see it, but Doncaster away is only weeks away. St Pancras is a beautiful place to start an away day. The Betjemen bar at 9.00, drink in hand before heading north. Kings Cross an absolute disgrace for so many years but did wander through recently trying to work out why it took so long. The interior just stunning. The outside is looking fantastic apparently. Meet at Kings Cross is no longer a swear word or a place you have to say 'no change mate sorry' whilst waiting for friends from Sussex. £55 billion to save 20 minutes to Birmingham? I suggest cancelling and upgrade Euston. Then the last vestige of the football special from a god forsaken run down station can finally be put to bed.

I believe part of that cost is upgrading Euston.

 

[yxee]

Really don't know what's going on with HS2. The idea to shoot people at the speed of light to somewhere vaguely near the suburbs of the city so they can then get a 20 mph bus to the centre just seems idiotic. And don't tell me the tickets will be affordable. They won't.

 

[Brovion]

Really don't know what's going on with HS2. The idea to shoot people at the speed of light to somewhere vaguely near the suburbs of the city so they can then get a 20 mph bus to the centre just seems idiotic. And don't tell me the tickets will be affordable. They won't.

I think the reasoning is that it will then free up more space on the 'traditional' lines which are very crowded.

Whilst I do think 55bn could probably be spent on other projects I've got nothing against HS2 per se, just that it's in the wrong place. It should be between London and Brighton!

 

[Bladders]

Really don't know what's going on with HS2. The idea to shoot people at the speed of light to somewhere vaguely near the suburbs of the city so they can then get a 20 mph bus to the centre just seems idiotic. And don't tell me the tickets will be affordable. They won't.

It's been reported that if they do not go through with HS2 they will have to spend vast amounts of money upgrading the WCML in the next 10 years to cope with demand, ok it won't be 55 billion but the money spent will just be a stop gap until they're forced to do it all over again within the next 30 years. Freight is also getting heavier on the WCML, just having that route wont be viable over the next 50 years.

The figure for HS2 is actually 42 billion. The 80 billion recently quoted was just a number plucked out the air by the Institute of Economic Affairs, who briefed the media on it and then hours later it was being reported as fact.

The 42 billion has been earmarked for HS2 only, there is no certainty what so ever that this money would be made available for incremental schemes on the existing infrastructure.

 

[BensGrandad]

In 1970 I had a pub next door to Kings Cross along Pancras Rd and at that time most were was raving about the new Euston station but saying much the same was it worth the money that it cost.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I agree. I am not the biggest fan of UK rail but credit where it is due, St Pancras and Kings Cross are beautiful buildings. The roof of St Pancras is stunning.

 

[Badger]

St Pancras and Kings Cross are fantastic stations now. I'm looking forward to them finishing London Bridge (in 2018 )

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Through work I saw the plans for the new Google HQ and other buildings on the Kings Cross estate - it's going to be a fantastic place when finished.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Really don't know what's going on with HS2. The idea to shoot people at the speed of light to somewhere vaguely near the suburbs of the city so they can then get a 20 mph bus to the centre just seems idiotic. And don't tell me the tickets will be affordable. They won't.

Phase 2 of HS2 which won't be finished until 2032 is the spur through the East Midlands up to Leeds where a bit further on near York it will join up with ECML. Sheffield City Council have announced that they will close the Don Valley Stadium as it is unsustainable. Demolishing it now will save millions as eventually it will have to be demolished to make way for the upgrade through to a much expanded Meadowhall (probably to be renamed with Sheffield in the name)