3 ms·

Presumably cost analysis has been done and the cost of buying land through compulsory purchase is far higher than tunnelling. Crazy, but true. HS1 only has 4

Presumably cost analysis has been done and the cost of buying land through compulsory purchase is far higher than tunnelling. Crazy, but true. HS1 only has 4 significant tunnels, St Pancras to Rainham, the Thames Tunnel, Bluebell Hill, and the approach into Ashford International. Some of the major costs was moving some houses out of the way (by using pistons), and moving and removing bridges. HS1 followed the Regents Canal out of London, the A2, and then M20 motorway through Kent. Looks like HS2 isn't following any significant roads.

lmm 6y ago
> Presumably cost analysis has been done and the cost of buying land through compulsory purchase is far higher than tunnelling. Crazy, but true. Nope. The tunnelling is uneconomic, but locals were able to ban the line from being built on the surface on the grounds that it's in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (a status that is disproportionately applied in the rich south of the country).
- iso1631 6y ago
  Rich landowners in the south get away with paying peanuts The property tax for a house in 16 acres of pristine AONB in Buckinghamshire, worth £8m [0], is £3806 a year -- 0.04% The property tax for a 2 bed terrace in Stoke-on-Trent for £65k [1] is £1107 -- 1.7%, 42 times higher. [0] https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62169501.html https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62169... [1] https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80532553.html https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80532...