HS2: UK in talks with China over construction of high-speed line

The UK is in talks with China over giving Beijing's state-owned railway builder a role in constructing the HS2 high-speed rail line.

China's state railway company said it could build the line in just five years and at a much lower cost, according to a letter seen by Building magazine.

Government officials said "preliminary discussions" had taken place, but no "concrete commitments" had been made.

Th UK's track record for delivering large projects on-time and on-budget is woeful. It's something we really are shite at.

At last we are taking back control, come on Doris.

china building 5g and now hs2 what next a huge trade deal instead of one with america??

Much as I despise the thought of the Chinese being involved in another UK infrastructure project it should put paid to the mahoosive gravy train that HS2 would otherwise become.

If Chinese do this it will be by their rules...... That would be interesting. No planning laws there.

Guest wrote:

Th UK's track record for delivering large projects on-time and on-budget is woeful. It's something we really are shite at.

Who flounced?

This is what happens when you encourage generations of kids to borrow fifty grand to study in surf science and media studies you end up with no real skills. The same is said about the nuclear power station we literally dont have anyone left who knows how to bui;d one.

Agreed

We have a generation of lurvies that can work at the BBC

And no engineers

Earwegoagain wrote:

Guest wrote:

Th UK's track record for delivering large projects on-time and on-budget is woeful. It's something we really are shite at.

Who flounced?

Bump.

Les Miserable wrote:

Earwegoagain wrote:

Guest wrote:

Th UK's track record for delivering large projects on-time and on-budget is woeful. It's something we really are shite at.

Who flounced?

Bump.

Its POI. Hopefully he's OK.

Earwegoagain wrote:

This is what happens when you encourage generations of kids to borrow fifty grand to study in surf science and media studies you end up with no real skills. The same is said about the nuclear power station we literally dont have anyone left who knows how to bui;d one.

Sadly true whilst some Universities continue to do amazing things, look at the development of Graphene, not that the UK has benefited from it, there are too many shit ones offering worthless degrees.

They should never have got rid of the Polytechnics

Hugh Watt wrote:

Les Miserable wrote:

Earwegoagain wrote:

Guest wrote:

Th UK's track record for delivering large projects on-time and on-budget is woeful. It's something we really are shite at.

Who flounced?

Bump.

Its POI. Hopefully he's OK.

Hugh Watt wrote:

Earwegoagain wrote:

This is what happens when you encourage generations of kids to borrow fifty grand to study in surf science and media studies you end up with no real skills. The same is said about the nuclear power station we literally dont have anyone left who knows how to bui;d one.

Sadly true whilst some Universities continue to do amazing things, look at the development of Graphene, not that the UK has benefited from it, there are too many shit ones offering worthless degrees.

They should never have got rid of the Polytechnics

That's the issue. All the Poly's became shit Uni's - Plymouth being a case in point.

What cracks me up is that we don't have thousands of pounds to keep public toilets open or to fix pot holes but we have billions for HS2, Crossrail, Met office supercomputer and even talk of a bridge between Ireland and Scotland. Feckin barmy.

Hugh Watt wrote:

Les Miserable wrote:

Earwegoagain wrote:

Guest wrote:

Th UK's track record for delivering large projects on-time and on-budget is woeful. It's something we really are shite at.

Who flounced?

Bump.

Its POI. Hopefully he's OK.

isnt he a mod?

POI has left so he concentrate on his life off here.

Czarcasm wrote:

Hugh Watt wrote:

Earwegoagain wrote:

This is what happens when you encourage generations of kids to borrow fifty grand to study in surf science and media studies you end up with no real skills. The same is said about the nuclear power station we literally dont have anyone left who knows how to bui;d one.

Sadly true whilst some Universities continue to do amazing things, look at the development of Graphene, not that the UK has benefited from it, there are too many shit ones offering worthless degrees.

They should never have got rid of the Polytechnics

That's the issue. All the Poly's became shit Uni's - Plymouth being a case in point.

Plymouth is actually pretty good, it scores well across a number of subjects and has a very high rate of graduate employment. Plymouth however does have one of the lowest student retention rates in the country which probably won't surprise you

Earwegoagain wrote:

What cracks me up is that we don't have thousands of pounds to keep public toilets open or to fix pot holes but we have billions for HS2, Crossrail, Met office supercomputer and even talk of a bridge between Ireland and Scotland. Feckin barmy.

A Bridge between a United Ireland and a Disunited Scotland.

Hugh Watt wrote:

Earwegoagain wrote:

What cracks me up is that we don't have thousands of pounds to keep public toilets open or to fix pot holes but we have billions for HS2, Crossrail, Met office supercomputer and even talk of a bridge between Ireland and Scotland. Feckin barmy.

A Bridge between a United Ireland and a Disunited Scotland.

United Ireland? I must have missed that. I've got a few Irish mates and they reckon if you had a referendum tomorrow it would be a landslide to unite and fook the north south divide, sadly its all the religious and political leaders that thrive on the divisions. My mates come from Antrim and wonder why Ireland can't be United by its common bond of hatred of the English.

Hugh Watt wrote:

Czarcasm wrote:

Hugh Watt wrote:

Earwegoagain wrote:

This is what happens when you encourage generations of kids to borrow fifty grand to study in surf science and media studies you end up with no real skills. The same is said about the nuclear power station we literally dont have anyone left who knows how to bui;d one.

Sadly true whilst some Universities continue to do amazing things, look at the development of Graphene, not that the UK has benefited from it, there are too many shit ones offering worthless degrees.

They should never have got rid of the Polytechnics

That's the issue. All the Poly's became shit Uni's - Plymouth being a case in point.

Plymouth is actually pretty good, it scores well across a number of subjects and has a very high rate of graduate employment. Plymouth however does have one of the lowest student retention rates in the country which probably won't surprise you

My daughter's in the process of selecting Uni's at the minute. There are a few specific courses that Plymouth may be ok for, but in the grand scheme of things it's not great - joint 77th with Falmouth last year in overall rankings.

Lodger 1 has been looking at Uni's the last couple of months. Looked around 5 and interviewed at 4. Been offered a place at all 4.

Angry wrote:

china building 5g and now hs2 what next a huge trade deal instead of one with america??

Yeah, why not.

They are a powerhouse of a country and a trade deal could benefit both countries ?. The Chinese do have a liking for British things I once read somewhere.

As for the USA, a trade deal with them is going to be on their terms.

Earwegoagain wrote:

Hugh Watt wrote:

Earwegoagain wrote:

What cracks me up is that we don't have thousands of pounds to keep public toilets open or to fix pot holes but we have billions for HS2, Crossrail, Met office supercomputer and even talk of a bridge between Ireland and Scotland. Feckin barmy.

A Bridge between a United Ireland and a Disunited Scotland.

United Ireland? I must have missed that. I've got a few Irish mates and they reckon if you had a referendum tomorrow it would be a landslide to unite and fook the north south divide, sadly its all the religious and political leaders that thrive on the divisions. My mates come from Antrim and wonder why Ireland can't be United by its common bond of hatred of the English.

I would imagine that it could be a nightmare should NI and Eire ever unite, the Protestant community could possibly see an increase in hassle and hatred toward them.

It would cost a united and independent Ireland some money to keep some sort of peace.

Of course, many numbers of the Protestant community could move en masse to the mainland, which would create more problems.

mouldyoldgoat wrote:

Lodger 1 has been looking at Uni's the last couple of months. Looked around 5 and interviewed at 4. Been offered a place at all 4.

Get them to look at advanced apprenticeships, youngest has done one, started on nearly £30k a year and four years later he has a degree level qualification HND? And he's on over forty grand a year now. Nephew has just started apprenticeship with open reach and he's on £28k.