The entitled motorists.

[Brandane]

BBC report.

The new heads of the valley road is due to open soon. Some fragile motorists are not happy that the intended speed limit will be 50 mph rather than 70 mph.

This is a 5 mile stretch of road. My arithmetic works that out at 4 minutes 18 seconds at 70 mph, or 6 minutes at 50 mph. A whole 1 minute and 42 seconds difference over 5 miles.

Life must be terrible for these poor people.

 

[Zanelad]

I read it that they've faced years of disruption and at the end of it nothing's changed. Why spend millions and millions for no improvement?

Might as well have slapped a new coating of tarmac on the old road and saved the money.

 

[Brandane]

I read it that they've faced years of disruption and at the end of it nothing's changed. Why spend millions and millions for no improvement?

Might as well have slapped a new coating of tarmac on the old road and saved the money.

I'm not familiar with the road they are reporting on, but from this bit....

The upgrade of the stretch between Brynmawr and Gilwern is part of the Welsh government's more than £800m upgrade programme for the road to turn the whole route from Monmouthshire to Neath Port Talbot into dual carriageways, which usually have a 70mph speed limit.

I was assuming that it was single carriageway previously? Especially as they mention widening of the road. If it was dual carriageway before, with a 50 mph limit then yes, it seems a monumental waste of money. But the difference in time over 5 miles remains the same.

 

[Zanelad]

People expect things to be better, and why not? We're spending billions and billions on HS2 to get people to Birmingham 30 minutes sooner. Save the money and tell them to get an earlier train! , They spent a small fortune for no real change. Waste of money (and HS2 in my opinion).

 

[Brandane]

Save the money and tell them to get an earlier train! , They spent a small fortune for no real change. Waste of money (and HS2 in my opinion).

Absolutely agree with that! London Euston to Birmingham New Street takes around 1 hour 25 minutes on the current service. Is there really any great need to do it faster that would justify the stupid amount of money being spent?

 

[cougie uk]

Surely you can fit more cars on the road at 50mph than you can at 70 ? You need a lot more space ?

Did nobody point this out to them ?
And a few high speed crashes and nobody's getting to work on time.

 

[Arrowfoot]

People expect things to be better, and why not? We're spending billions and billions on HS2 to get people to Birmingham 30 minutes sooner. Save the money and tell them to get an earlier train! , They spent a small fortune for no real change. Waste of money (and HS2 in my opinion).

In nearly all cases where Subways and HS trains are commissioned anywhere in the World , demand among passengers rise beyond forecast. It is quite a phenomenon. It called the multiplier effect. People generally won't commit in their minds but when the services comes online, there is significant change. When the Jubilee line was built for the Olympics, it was considered too much for a short event. Even before the Olympics it already has substantial traffic.

Watch as HS2 comes online. The 30 minutes will make a difference. People who stay in London during the workweek and travel back home will now do it more frequently. People are funny like that. I seen the same phenomenon in airlines as well. Twice weekly service from on country to another suddenly is in deamand when it turns into daily service. If people are assured of consistency and reliability, they will organise their lives around it.

 

[postman]

HS2 billions spent countryside raped,so travellers can have another beer latte subway sarnie in the train station.With the 30 mins saved.

 

[Cycleops]

Rather than spend money on new roads like that it should go into improving the rail network like HS2. It will get more motorists out of their cars and discourage short haul domestic air travel. Then there’s the boost to jobs and the economy in general. Way to go.

 

[steverob]

I don't know why the main selling point of HS2 was made out to be the supposed 30 minute saving - maybe they thought that made for the best headlines, even though it was at best an edge case?

Ask anyone in the railway business and they'll tell you the most important point is getting the fast/direct trains off the already overcrowded West Coast mainlines, thereby opening up capacity for local/stopping services that are of more use to the general public. HS2 and its eventual extensions north are there as dedicated lines to try and compete with low-cost airlines and reduce environmental costs that way.

 

[Darius_Jedburgh]

From the forgotten North West catching as train to London from Wigan, Preston, Manchester, Runcorn or Liverpool if you don't pick the stopping trains the journey takes 2 hours and a very few minutes. Why is that not fast enough? Savings in time on HS2 are supposed to be 12 minutes.

 

[Brandane]

Rather than spend money on new roads like that it should go into improving the rail network like HS2. It will get more motorists out of their cars and discourage short haul domestic air travel. Then there’s the boost to jobs and the economy in general. Way to go.

They could always make the existing rail network more enticing. Like lowering the fares for starters. As I've mentioned on other threads, £200 return to Portsmouth when I can drive it for half that cost in petrol? And that is travelling solo... a no brainer.

 

[Zanelad]

They could always make the existing rail network more enticing. Like lowering the fares for starters. As I've mentioned on other threads, £200 return to Portsmouth when I can drive it for half that cost in petrol? And that is travelling solo... a no brainer.

Exactly, I bought a motorbike from Nottingham last autumn. To get there from Aylesbury would take over 5 hours. Nearly half of which was spent travelling into London only to get a train going north. 2 hours to get back to where I started before making progress towards the destination. To be fair the cost wasn't too bad, about £40 IIRC.

We drove up in the car and allowing for Mrs Z's cautious approach to motorway driving (even with a motorcycle escort ) on the way home, including a stop for coffee and a bite to eat we made the round trip in little more than the train journey would have taken. . I must admit I was quite looking forward to the train ride, but three trains and even then I'd need a taxi for the last few miles meant the car was just far more convenient and cost about the same, extortionate motorway refreshment charges excluded.

To get people out of their cars public transport needs to be affordable, frequent and fit for purpose.

Mr Beeching has a lot to answer for.

 

[Mo1959]

To get people out of their cars public transport needs to be affordable, frequent and fit for purpose.

I was out for an early walk and was thinking that exact thought. The amount of cars heading out of my town going into Perth this morning, obviously going into work and nearly all with a single occupant was astounding.

 

[Drago]

Wheres my groundhog day picture?