Havent seen this discussed elsewhere - is it a bit of a kick in the teeth for Hull not to be involved? Surely it's more relevent for our city to have better links straight west than Newcastle. Even Jawdies voxpopped on Today are confused, saying they've nothing to do with the Pennines.
I feel the same. The Mayor of Liverpool is quoted as saying "We want the capacity, the ability to ship freight further north, east and across to Hull and the Humber. It's right that if we are seriously talking about rebalancing the economy, that we have to create better connectivity between our northern cities." And yet we are not one of the alliance of five cities - Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield involved in the £15 billion venture which aims to improve transport links between the East and West parts of Northern England. I find this odd.
Precisely. I saw that quote and thought it doesnt make sense. It's almost like he thought Hull was involved.
Me too, Ernie - I heard it on the News today and wondered why Hull was not part of it. Left out or dipped out?
Hull should be involved. I hope the council explain why they werent included and that they will do something to be included. I've just been watching the TV programmes about Crossrail. It's amazing.
I saw episode 1 of that. I couldnt believe it was 80 cms gap (was it?) they had to dig through without hitting an existing tube line. That's mental. I'm no engineer but surely that's too small of a gap not to be guaranteed it wont give at some point.
I guess the tunnel shielding that they put in after the boring gives it some decent structural support. Not sure what they're doing with crossrail 2 at the moment (due to go from Peter's neck of the woods to leytonstone). Think they've finally agreed on a route for it. Plus talk of an orbital suburban railway project out in zones 3-5. HS1 will just make london's commuter belt a bit bigger rather than helping the north. They'd be better off moving a lot of unessential government offices out of London. Projects like this one north sound better for redistributing trade across the country. One thing that always strikes me coming up to hull is the overcapacity of the roads once you get past about Doncaster. I drove back from Harrogate yesterday at about 5:30pm and once I got to wetherby the traffic was free-flowing all the way to hull. Where hull could do with some infrastructural funding is for its rail network and the castle street issue, which always seems to get sub-par resolutions. I also went to leeds yesterday for the first time ever (saw a kid in a city shirt within two minutes of leaving the car park) and I understand now why people say that hull is 10-20 years behind other northern cities on the renovation front (still small fry when compared with the money that is constantly thrown at London by the government).
It stuns me that in this day and age major roads in Hull close when a train comes in to the city centre. Seriously, I have NEVER been to another major city where that is the case. Why isnt either the rail or the road elevated? It is beyond belief and what's even worse is people just seem to accept it as an issue in the city.
Seriously, you think a flyover on Spring Bank should be a priority? I can think of few things that I'd put below it on a list of things that need addressing in Hull.
When did I say it was a priority? I'd put it lower down a list as well. All I said is it that it's rubbish, and it is. It's a transport approach for a small town, not a major city.
I think the electrification of the Donnie Hull line has virtually been rubber stamped. This came out before the talk of this new line being built and I would seriously imagin that this will be part of it. It would be ridiculous for it not to be.
We get left out because Civil Servants in London, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle are running this from Government Regional offices which we dont have and are ignorant of our area's unique importance as a Port regards trade and business. We appear to them to be just a small area population wise and the Council MPs do not do enough to push the importance of the port and international passengers and freight as reasons for our inclusion.
BCB, when you get chance, visit Lincoln at some point in the rush hour and weep! It has two railway crossings in and just off the city centre that are so close that when a train comes through everything stops!
We should welcome this investment as northerners. The 5 cities mentioned aren't the only benefactors just the largest, 2 of them don't even have Premier League football so we have some advantage. The only other northern city mentioned is Hull by the Mayor of Liverpool so we are connected into the plan. Osbourne could have explained this better but I take it as a general boost to the great Northern English powerhouse of which as a strategic port we are industrially integral, sportingly integral and we will also be culturally integral in 2017.
One huge problem with Walton Street/Sp.Bk.W. level crossing is that there's not really anywhere to put a new flyover. (Think of Anlaby Rd. and Hessle Rd. - the flyover is parallel to the old road). Spring Bank West would have to be closed to build a bridge.
