High Speed Train.

[Georgiesmum]

Is this new planned high speed train a good thing for this country> Can we afford it?

[baza]

the trains will be made in europe as we don't make them here anymore.

[DJHawkes]

well at least the farmers who were worried about keeping in business will now not need to worry as much as they will be compulsory purchased and can go and get a job in London........

[jno]

they'll have to be on long, skinny farms to lose it all

[Buenchico]

This has been extensively discussed in 'News':
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1211532.html

My own view is that we can't afford not to do it; we need to encourage greater use of public transport and we need to project a modern image to potential investors in the UK. We're finally bringing our rail network out of the Victorian age, and it's time to move ahead.

[jno]

anyway, I'm in favour. When petrol gets over £10 a litre the country will need all the rail tracks it can get

[DJHawkes]

it's not like scalextric! they need a bit of room you know

[jno]

Chris, it might be better to move the rail system back to the Victorian age, when they took it seriously!

[Buenchico]

>>>the trains will be made in europe as we don't make them here anymore

That will come as a shock to the staff of Bombardier in Derby, Baza!!!
(OK, they make rubbish trains, but at least they make them!)

[jno]

not that much, dotty

http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/354508/350wm/T6500109-Eurostar_Channel_Tunnel_trains_passing_on_a_track-SPL.jpg

[craft1948]

I remember when British Rail Carriageworks was one of York's main employers.......I think all their jobs went to Sweden.

[baza]

bombardier didn't have a lot of luck with their recent bids to make trains, seimens got the work.

[Buenchico]

>>>bombardier didn't have a lot of luck with their recent bids to make trains, seimens got the work.

Thank heavens!

Anyone who's worked on the railways knows that Bombardier can't make decent trains. Their 170 sets, for example, had to be withdrawn and re-engined after passengers complained about the noise levels and platform staff complained that they couldn't hear possibly vital safety messages on their radios. They were also notorious for locking customers in the toilets (or for toilet doors to suddenly open while people were in there) and for problems resetting the pas-com system (= 'communication cord' in old terms) after activation.

[baza]

craft ,I was on a course in the early 80's when a big chunk of York was owned by B.R. Tanner Row opposite the station was all railway offices and even had a large club.

[craft1948]

Think those offices are all a hotel now baza............

[craft1948]

Here it is baza......

https://www.cedarcourtgrand.co.uk/#1

[baza]

Buenchico, imo the last decent train made was the 321 (dusty bin) E.M.U. the stuff went down hill when more high tech stuff was fitted.

[Mass_Hysteria]

We don't make anything now of any significance, trains as in this thread, aircraft since BAe commercial ceased a few years ago, cars mostly made abroad. Just a finance (questionable) and service industry. Not too much to looking forward?

[baza]

craft, thank's for that, God I feel old now.

[craft1948]

lol Baza in the 80's I was working just round the corner in the BT offices.

[Buenchico]

Baza:
I did the PA announcement for the last 321 service ever to depart from Ipswich station. (It was a 'special' to commemorate the event). Every seat on the train was taken, even though it was only a direct 'there and back' trip with nothing to do except enjoy the the train ride. The platform was so packed with train-spotters that I had to allocate extra staff to despatch it for safety reasons.

So some people obviously liked the 321s. I was just glad to see the back of the darned things!