Pardon? It's Arden (2)

Birmingham Arden Station?

Ploughing through the middle of the above site will be HS2 as shown in this inaccurate diagram.

This next diagram is better although HS2 is merely a slash of white across the site plan; with no mention of train or station. Perhaps the developers have nagging fears that the station will join the rest of the cancelled HS2?

fbb reminds his readers what has been excised and what is left.

Here is a amended map of HS2 as envisaged not too long ago.

So almost everything north west of Birmingham has now been cancelled as is the whole caboodle to link HS2 with the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East.

What is left, then is a short fast rail journey from London to Birmingham via a huge and hyper-expensive Delta Junction ...

... for a few trains that will only rarely be using the full junction as a junction. HS2 trains will continue to some destinations in the north west at current line speed and therefore will be about 15 minutes faster than running via the existing West Coast Main Line.

There has even been some talk of terminating HS2 at Old Oak Common and disgorging the passengers and their luggage to continue into central London via the Elizabeth Line.

Politicians have stated incontavertubly that Euston remains as the London terminus but it may be delayed to save money. Quite how delaying it saves money is a mystery. Once the delay is undelayed, the project will cost more because of the delay.

But back to the station at Arden Cross, actually called Birmingham Interchange.

Solihull Councillors (it is within the boundaries of Solihull, NOT Birmingham or Coventry) are already protesting.

Not good news for a station called "Interchange" if you are unable to interchange from car to train! 

How does HS2 respond?

It's all going jolly well, isn't it?

The station is planned to have four platforms and two through tracks for non stopping trains zooming off to the North West and the North East.

Clever readers may just spot the flaw in this plan.

But what does this interchange interchange with?

As fbb hinted in yesterday's blog, there will be a "People Mover" to The National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham International Station (obviously lacking any trains that are even vaguely international!) and to Birmingham Airport. Maybe that is "international" bit?

And there will be, we are now told, a tram!

So the Birmingham Interchange station will allow folk from the eastern suburbs of Brum to catch a tram to this huge new station with a lot less trains than it should have had. 

It will allow visitors to the NEC a much faster route to London and the South East and, if there are any places left, car drivers and their passengers can motor over from the East Midlands via the M42 and the North West via both M6s and use it as a Park and Ride.

It will undoubtedly be the costliest Park and Ride infrastructure in Europe,  possibly the world.

Call it "Arden Cross Park and Ride" because there will be no useful rail interchange unless someone comes to their senses and reinstates the cancelled northern bits of HS2!

Rachel's got the money bags, apparently, so jump to it Madam Minister!

Tomorrow we look at the proposed tram route.

How about opening the unused bits of the Delta Junction as a visitor attraction?

Children could have a ride on a miniature HS2 train and enjoy some expensive HS2 sideshows. There is already a cheerful "character" to entertain the kiddies.

 Next 'Pardon It's Arden' blog : Weds 18 June