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Those magical words that attach themselves to British infrastructure builds like limpets: 'billions over-budget' and 'behind schedule'.
And they still need more cash it seems!
Was just about to type those exact words and hearing how casually the operations manager said "potentially "when asked if its going to cost more money to have no steps alarming. Not just British infrastructure of course a childrens hospital in Dublin out of control spending and over here in the US some wild amounts blew in California on high speed rail network and need a billion a YEAR to continue its tracks to God knows where .
That was amply demonstrated to me when the platform at Kensal Rise station was extended. A very simple piece of engineering that required no demolition or land clearance. What a spectacle. Multi-storey portakabins and more workers than extras in a James Bond underground industrial facility panic scene. I think they spent a whole day carrying in the bottles for the water coolers. But that's what happens when you design public works schemes to funnel money into private pockets.
That was amply demonstrated to me when the platform at Kensal Rise station was extended. A very simple piece of engineering that required no demolition or land clearance. What a spectacle. Multi-storey portakabins and more workers than extras in a James Bond underground industrial facility panic scene. I think they spent a whole day carrying in the bottles for the water coolers. But that's what happens when you design public works schemes to funnel money into private pockets.
[Post edited 16 Aug 15:33]
The footbridge at Stowmarket station is finally finished after more than 18 months of work.The bad news is that the lifts still don’t work,and nobody is working on fixing the problem.
If anyone has actually worked on any of these large scale infrastructure projects then you’ll know that the bureaucracy is off the scale. The UK Government approach to any public works scheme or Contract has been mental for decades but now you have to fill in 28 forms to turn a screw. It’s madness.
London Underground are worse. I was on a contract with them decades ago and their approach to everything was a licence to print money for us Contractors. Clearly H&S is and should always be a priority, but this is now pushed forward at the expense of common sense.
Nobody is proud to produce anything for this Country anymore and who can blame them? It’s forced down our throats not to be like that and everything needs dumbing down to the most basic of levels.
The last project that I was involved in (on a very minor basis) that I’d say produced something to be proud of was the St Pancras Great Hall refurbishment. Cracker that.
Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal
Was just about to type those exact words and hearing how casually the operations manager said "potentially "when asked if its going to cost more money to have no steps alarming. Not just British infrastructure of course a childrens hospital in Dublin out of control spending and over here in the US some wild amounts blew in California on high speed rail network and need a billion a YEAR to continue its tracks to God knows where .
It’s not just that new infrastructure is usually hugely over budget and shockingly overdue it is also, almost without failure, depressingly ugly to look at. It’s like Architects are in some private competition to out do each other on their monstrousness. Meanwhile they go home to their 4 storey Georgian townhouses.
Exhibit A - Thanet Parkway Stn. Opened in 2023 and 4x over budget.
If I had to commute from that monstrosity every day I’d think I was living in some bleak, Soviet era existence.
It’s not just that new infrastructure is usually hugely over budget and shockingly overdue it is also, almost without failure, depressingly ugly to look at. It’s like Architects are in some private competition to out do each other on their monstrousness. Meanwhile they go home to their 4 storey Georgian townhouses.
Exhibit A - Thanet Parkway Stn. Opened in 2023 and 4x over budget.
If I had to commute from that monstrosity every day I’d think I was living in some bleak, Soviet era existence.
[Post edited 16 Aug 16:54]
There’s a very good article about Thanet Parkway here. Also covers a lot of the wider issues in building public infrastructure
Thanks for that. An interesting (if you’re a bit nerdy about architecture and the design of public spaces) read. The ‘Holt’ info was fascinating but I’m guessing the residents of Thanet don’t give a shit about that! I note the author doesn’t give their name. I’d lay a pound to a penny they’re an architect which, as they like Thanet Parkway, rather proves my point. That there were four public consultations is also ridiculous. The fact that the cost of the bureaucracy subsequently impacts the amount of money available on the design/build quality and aesthetic just about sums this all up. Farcical.
One of the most insane decisions on HS2 was to outsource a huge chunk of the project management and design to India. No wonder it’s taking so long to finish. It has almost bankrupted a huge amount of excellent contractors. Payment terms were in excess of 190 days. I could go on…..
One of the most insane decisions on HS2 was to outsource a huge chunk of the project management and design to India. No wonder it’s taking so long to finish. It has almost bankrupted a huge amount of excellent contractors. Payment terms were in excess of 190 days. I could go on…..
It was no better in a JV with the big boys. Surveys were constantly having to be rebooked due to the JV PM not actually arranging access, costing lots of time and taxpayer money and every RFP was fought to the death and dragged out like crazy to avoid payment.
All to get to Birmingham 15 minutes quicker. I pass underneath the new track near Denham and to think it won’t be in use for another 15 years or so is staggering.
All to get to Birmingham 15 minutes quicker. I pass underneath the new track near Denham and to think it won’t be in use for another 15 years or so is staggering.
Staggering isn’t it.
“Ah, but multiply than by 250,000 people a day and that’s 3.75m minutes a day saved” we’re told.
Does it really work like that?? Is the cost, the time, the destruction, the other things lost that the money could have been spent up really all worthwhile?
One of the most insane decisions on HS2 was to outsource a huge chunk of the project management and design to India. No wonder it’s taking so long to finish. It has almost bankrupted a huge amount of excellent contractors. Payment terms were in excess of 190 days. I could go on…..
Phew, for a second I thought you were going to say passengers would be riding on the trains roof!
Before we beat ourselves up too severely, remember those fine and thrifty engineers the Scots, who built the Parliament Building and Edinburgh Tram, both many times over budget and vastly late. Even the efficient Germans were nine years late and three times over budget with the new Berlin airport, and the centre of Stuttgart has been a construction site since 2010 while they build a new transport hub now estimated to open in 2031!
“Ah, but multiply than by 250,000 people a day and that’s 3.75m minutes a day saved” we’re told.
Does it really work like that?? Is the cost, the time, the destruction, the other things lost that the money could have been spent up really all worthwhile?
In fairness the new Elizabeth line has been a great success story despite being years delayed and hugely over budget.
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