Comments for New Civil Engineer

Comment on New line between Handsacre and Manchester Airport proposed to replace HS2 Phase 2 by David Howard

David Howard — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 18:03:21 +0000

If there is to be a new route from Handsacre to Manchester via Crewe then doesn’t it make total sense to progress Phase 2a? Crewe station is at capacity already and needs re-building. Delaying will just increase the cost. I cannot see how stopping short of Manchester Picadilly is of benefit, this new scheme will not connect to the Northern Powerhouse. All seems half baked and not thought through.

Comment on Landslip-prone Northumberland road gets long term stabilisation solution by pkc@halfwaytree.plus.com

pkc@halfwaytree.plus.com — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 10:46:59 +0000

Travelled this road many times when my parents were alive, you ever knew what you were going to encounter after you turned onto it by the Anglers Arms.

Comment on Baltimore bridge collapse | ‘Almost impossible’ to withstand this kind of impact, engineers say by tony Blewett

tony Blewett — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:56:35 +0000

In 1960 there was an eighty year old railway bridge, still in regular use, across the UK’s River Severn from Sharpness to Lydney when in thick fog this bridge was hit by two coastal tankers, demolishing a section of the bridge. By incredible chance the last train of the day had just passed the point where the bridge was hit.

Comment on Researchers transform sugarcane by-product into slabs and bricks by tony Blewett

tony Blewett — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:37:42 +0000

It is important to remember that any trace of sugar in this product will disrupt the setting of Portland cement. The vehicles, bins or bags this material gets moved in if subsequently used for transporting aggregates for use with OPC will need exceedingly good cleaning. More than half a century ago this was discovered when old molases/sugar bags were used to transport aggregates for concrete production and setting failure took place.

Comment on If construction is to meet the challenges of decarbonisation, we must find a better methodology by Philip Pascall

Philip Pascall — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 10:52:58 +0000

Does PAS 2080 provide a suitable methodology?

Comment on Significant questions arise over proposed new Handsacre to Manchester Airport line by John Porter

John Porter — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 17:39:59 +0000

William Barter is right “any sensible service on the new infrastructure [requires] a proper station at Euston, and not a few platforms tucked away somewhere as a side-hustle”. However, there’s merit in an integrated station with six 16 coach HS2 platforms, dedicated exiting and arrival concourses and a few platforms shared with WCML for up to 12 coach trains. That saves cost and seems to imply rebuilding Euston with some commercial development on both East & West sides.

I’d prefer any new tunnel approach to Manchester from Liverpool to be re-confirmed as the right one for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and stations in Manchester saving cost by being designed for ULTIMATELY 12 coach HS2 trains rather than paired 8 coach trains. That might eventually require
# an extra rolling stock depot – as Washwood Heath is designed for 8 & 16 coach stock not 12 and
# a separate Leeds via Manchester to Old Oak and Birmingham Interchange service, not requiring advance reservations, to complement faster ECML Leeds services, while maximising ultimate capacity and connectivity.

As William says, any private financing needs to identify places where lower speed might save cost, without large losses of extra fare revenue and hence usage fees.

Comment on Electricity System Operator proposes £58bn investment in grid to achieve decarbonisation by 2035 by David Howard

David Howard — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 12:55:24 +0000

And when the wind isn’t blowing?

Comment on New line between Handsacre and Manchester Airport proposed to replace HS2 Phase 2 by Alistair Muir

Alistair Muir — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 19:00:20 +0000

I agree that new infrastructure such as this line is needed, but does it have to be financed by the private sector?
The costs involved could be covered only by very rich companies, or a sovereign wealth fund. Once these assets are sold, they are gone, and the new owners can charge what they can get in perpetuity.
If the schemes can generate more benefits than costs over its lifetime, why should not the benefits accrue to the tax payer?

Our descendants may not thank us for mortgaging their future.

Comment on Scope and options tabled for delivery of Palace of Westminster restoration by davidcbeale@yahoo.co.uk.qsi

davidcbeale@yahoo.co.uk.qsi — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:32:49 +0000

So the proposals are to decant the Houses of Commons and Lords for 11 and 17 years respectively. So a more a realistic esrtimate would be say 16 and 25 years. This is nonsense. Surely the better appricah is construct new buildings and to restore the existing premises as a museum. No costs are given but surely we talking about £2billion a year so, say £50 billion. This would also provide long term flood protection. News buildings would be a fantastic project for British Achitects and Contractors.

Comment on England to Scotland subsea energy superhighway will be first to progress under Ofgem fast track process by tony Blewett

tony Blewett — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 15:33:51 +0000

Has enough thought been given to the risk and consequences of accidental or terrorist damage to this proposed link. There have already been a number of cable damage and pipeline incidents (such as the recent telephone cable to the Shetland Isles) which do not appear to have natural causes.