Eurotunnel being sold

[tzijlstra]

When the final bill busts past 100 billion quid I wonder what questions will be asked.

 

How much money per person in the UK would that equate to??

 

Which final bill?

[geared]

The final bill for HS2, which IMO they are still massively under-estimating.

[sgtkate]

If we sell it now then it clears some debt - agreed.

But that's v short-term. What about in a few years time? Where will the money come from then to support our infrastructure? To me it's like a plasterer selling his van to clear his credit card. Great in the short run but now he has no way of making more money so gets in more debt.

[PeteMorris]

The final bill for HS2, which IMO they are still massively under-estimating.

 

It's ok, cos by the time it comes to fruition...(if it ever does)....A different 'lot' will be in government....and they can simply blame 'the other lot'....Whoever it was.

 

That's how it works isn't it?

 

Oooops...Sorry....I'm being cynical again.....

[truman]

If we sell it now then it clears some debt - agreed.

But that's v short-term. What about in a few years time? Where will the money come from then to support our infrastructure? To me it's like a plasterer selling his van to clear his credit card. Great in the short run but now he has no way of making more money so gets in more debt.

 

See my earlier post..we only made 21 million from Eurostar last year...if our share sells we'll have had 35 years of profit all in one go.. think of the interest the plasterer will have saved..

[PeteMorris]

See my earlier post..we only made 21 million from Eurostar last year...if our share sells we'll have had 35 years of profit all in one go.. think of the interest the plasterer will have saved..

 

35 years of potential profit...based on last years performance....at of course today's prices, which almost certainly won't be applicable in 35 years time.

 

Yep the plasterer saved lots on interest payments....But sadly can't work, cos he's got no transport....

[Alan Ladd]

These are long term risky but essential investments. To think of trouble free or no risk is silly. Estimating cost is very difficult and inevitably wrong, however, like a cash flow prediction, the maths are worth doing if only to give you a guide.

 

The only really catastrophic failure of recent times was the Millenium Dome, even then it was well originated by Heseltine, cocked up by Mandelson.

[truman]

35 years of potential profit...based on last years performance....at of course today's prices, which almost certainly won't be applicable in 35 years time.

 

Yep the plasterer saved lots on interest payments....But sadly can't work, cos he's got no transport....

 

That's where SgtKates analogy falls down..it's not the same thing..How is not owning the eurostar stopping the UK from working? Potential profit..yep you're right..they may make a loss next year..

[PeteMorris]

These are long term risky but essential investments. To think of trouble free or no risk is silly. Estimating cost is very difficult and inevitably wrong, however, like a cash flow prediction, the maths are worth doing if only to give you a guide.

 

The only really catastrophic failure of recent times was the Millenium Dome, even then it was well originated by Heseltine, cocked up by Mandelson.

 

That's exactly what I mean about one lot blaming the other lot...No matter which way it goes.

 

It's such long term investment that they can easily afford to be risky, or blasé with their estimates, because they know full well they won't be doing that job, when, or if it goes pear shaped. That's how it works.

[sgtkate]

That's where SgtKates analogy falls down..it's not the same thing..How is not owning the eurostar stopping the UK from working? Potential profit..yep you're right..they may make a loss next year..

 

Yeah maybe. I'm playing devil's advocate a bit. I just find it odd that we sell of the things making us money. East Coast mainline as well. Why not keep them so that when the books are balanced better we have a nice earner that's not just tax receipts.