smiggs   10 #217 Posted February 26, 2016 That is until someone calculates the extra time it will take to get in and out of the city centre via their route, at which point they'll be told to FRO. or they'll baulk at the extra cost of it.  Either way, it's a non-starter.  I wouldn't be so sure if the Tories do follow through with their plans for Northern Powerhouse rail then the case begins to become even more powerful for a city centre station. The alternative might be that all these new routes bypass Sheffield city centre which puts Sheffield at a major disadvantage - while the cynics here will say that the government's plan all along if we don't make the case the whole of South Yorkshire will be a domitory county. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
NightFlight   10 #218 Posted February 26, 2016 I wouldn't be so sure if the Tories do follow through with their plans for Northern Powerhouse rail then the case begins to become even more powerful for a city centre station.  The 'Northern Powerhouse' is generally cited as Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle putting silly little Sheffield in the way of trains to Leeds isn't going to be viewed favourably. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
smiggs   10 #219 Posted February 26, 2016 The 'Northern Powerhouse' is generally cited as Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle putting silly little Sheffield in the way of trains to Leeds isn't going to be viewed favourably.  Troll much?  The Northern Powerhouse includes all cities regions even Hull. Manchester is leading the way in it's progress towards Osbourne's plan with city region mayors. Sheffield is actually closer to achieving a city deal than any other area. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
geared   319 #220 Posted February 26, 2016 I thought the Northern Powerhouse idea had already died a death, when it turned out no-one was actually willing to put any money towards the idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
foxy lady   10 #221 Posted February 26, 2016 Troll much? The Northern Powerhouse includes all cities regions even Hull. Manchester is leading the way in it's progress towards Osbourne's plan with city region mayors. Sheffield is actually closer to achieving a city deal than any other area.  Dream on. The prime infrastructure for decades has been to link Liverpool/Manchester with Leeds/Bradford. I've seem little to suggest that is about to change. Where is the trans-Pennine rail link, or the trans-Pennine motorway. 30 miles to the north of Sheffield, that's where. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
psynuk   10 #222 Posted February 26, 2016 much in the same way sheffield airport is 30 miles to the east Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
ghost rider   10 #223 Posted February 26, 2016 (edited) Great Central  1951 Conservative government elected.  1958 GC loses mainline status as it was seen to be a duplicate of the MML and its traffic was mainly freight which was in decline.  1960 Last express trains ran from Sheffield/Manchester to London  1961 Beeching becomes Chairman of British Railways Board  1963 Beeching report - objected to by labour  1964 Labour government with Harold Wilson as Prime Minister  1965 Second Beeching report rejected by Labour and Beeching leaves  Beeching and Wilson were not responsible for the demise of the GC but they failed to preserve the route on closure . Would Nottingham and Leicester have put up with long viaducts through their city centres, decaying for 60 years?  Harold Wilson was in power from 1964 to 1970 and the line was closed from 1966 to 1969,he had plenty of time to step in and stop it but chose not to.The line was never used to its full potential because of a lack of suitable locomotives to make use of the potential high speed nature of the line.Somebody has probably worked out how quickly a modern high speed electric train could have gone from London to Sheffield if the line still existed.I am guessing it would be much faster than the zig zagging Midland mainline.  ---------- Post added 26-02-2016 at 18:44 ----------  I know some people do not like any Labour governments to be criticised in Sheffield but i think you will find Harold Wilson closed many more rail routes than the previous Tory pm.Try looking into the Beeching report to get the full facts.I have several books on it and also on the GCR line.I do not claim to be an expert but i am quite knowledgeable on the subject.The link explains a bit about the Beeching report.  http://www.londonreconnections.com/2013/the-beeching-report-50-years-on/ Edited February 26, 2016 by ghost rider Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
foxy lady   10 #224 Posted February 26, 2016 Harold Wilson was in power from 1964 to 1970 and the line was closed from 1966 to 1969,he had plenty of time to step in and stop it but chose not to.The line was never used to its full potential because of a lack of suitable locomotives to make use of the potential high speed nature of the line.Somebody has probably worked out how quickly a modern high speed electric train could have gone from London to Sheffield if the line still existed.I am guessing it would be much faster than the zig zagging Midland mainline. ---------- Post added 26-02-2016 at 18:44 ----------  I know some people do not like any Labour governments to be criticised in Sheffield but i think you will find Harold Wilson closed many more rail routes than the previous Tory pm.Try looking into the Beeching report to get the full facts.I have several books on it and also on the GCR line.I do not claim to be an expert but i am quite knowledgeable on the subject.The link explains a bit about the Beeching report.  http://www.londonreconnections.com/2013/the-beeching-report-50-years-on/  And it was Harold Wilson's Government that halted work on the part constructed motorway between Sheffield and Manchester. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Hopman   46 #225 Posted February 26, 2016 Putting the HS2 station in the centre of Sheffield will mean tunnelling under built up areas which will add to the cost and give us a load of subsoil/rock to dispose of. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
ricm   10 #226 Posted February 27, 2016 As a Sheffield resident I would never use HS2 at Meadowhall. Why travel out there, wait, change trains or tram only to spend possibly more time doing that then get on a slower direct train from Sheffield Midland?  And how does either option serve all the people of South Yorkshire? Someone, somewhere is going to have a difficult journey to connect with HS2. And how does shaving minutes of the journey miraculously bring prosperity, more jobs, inward investment to the region?  I find the case overstated.  I think all most people want is a commitment to a rail network that continues to be improved everywhere over time. A single HS line can only ever benefit a few alongside or near to the direct route. I'd rather see a long-term solution that benefits "the many" by upgrading the existing network for all the major towns together with improved connecting links.  Now if HS2 were the beginning of that wider network that would be different... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
foxy lady   10 #227 Posted February 27, 2016 As a Sheffield resident I would never use HS2 at Meadowhall. Why travel out there, wait, change trains or tram only to spend possibly more time doing that then get on a slower direct train from Sheffield Midland? And how does either option serve all the people of South Yorkshire? Someone, somewhere is going to have a difficult journey to connect with HS2. And how does shaving minutes of the journey miraculously bring prosperity, more jobs, inward investment to the region?  I find the case overstated.  I think all most people want is a commitment to a rail network that continues to be improved everywhere over time. A single HS line can only ever benefit a few alongside or near to the direct route. I'd rather see a long-term solution that benefits "the many" by upgrading the existing network for all the major towns together with improved connecting links.  Now if HS2 were the beginning of that wider network that would be different...   I doubt HS2 will even do that. For it to bring prosperity it needs to stop. Much of the time saved on journeys is by not stopping at stations. So the HS2 will cut most communities in half but bring no benefit other than to those collecting the train numbers as the high speed trains whizz by. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
wrinkly67   10 #228 Posted February 27, 2016 As a Sheffield resident I would never use HS2 at Meadowhall. Why travel out there, wait, change trains or tram only to spend possibly more time doing that then get on a slower direct train from Sheffield Midland? And how does either option serve all the people of South Yorkshire? Someone, somewhere is going to have a difficult journey to connect with HS2. And how does shaving minutes of the journey miraculously bring prosperity, more jobs, inward investment to the region?  I find the case overstated.  I think all most people want is a commitment to a rail network that continues to be improved everywhere over time. A single HS line can only ever benefit a few alongside or near to the direct route. I'd rather see a long-term solution that benefits "the many" by upgrading the existing network for all the major towns together with improved connecting links.  Now if HS2 were the beginning of that wider network that would be different... Completely agree. I don't feel "domestic" users will have any benefits - many losses, in fact, from destruction of homes, businesses and our countryside. It feels like we are being left with very little "up North" to warrant business travel from the south. What business expansion is there likely to be only on the back of what we are being told about HS2, much of which is somewhat hazy? Will new businesses take the risk of development prior to HS2 or will they wait for HS2 to come first? Pessimistic I may be but I have a grave niggling doubt that the southern part may well be accomplished only for our northern part to be delayed/put on hold. The north/south divide will become even greater. If I'm wrong and it does happen and new large businesses haven't been developed up here, then until they are, the travel will still be one way - north to south! As regards our existing networks. As an elderly couple, no longer driving, I have recently explored rail services for access to numerous places, north, south, east and west. Most journeys would be horrendous - with up to 4 changes to make for what, on our small island, would be a relatively short journey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...