The project has already suffered repeated delays and soaring costs despite being scaled back.
Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook said there were “serious problems” with HS2 “in terms of accountability, project overruns, costs”.
He said: “Frankly, when it comes to HS2, in some ways we’re a bit of a laughing stock around the world in terms of how we handle infrastructure.
Jayne Thomson on BirminghamLive
Dear Laura and Anne and Richard are responsible for our own regional transport tragedy
PHOTOS I've been forgetting to send you:
The Jews who survived a Christian nation's attempt to exterminate them, used terrorism and massacres to win and hold the land of another people. But by expelling and slaughtering the people of Palestine, they made those Palestinians who survived, the enemy of the Jews for 80 years. Israel has never quelled them and has never lived in peace, despite their nukes, having America and the West on their side and being the Middle East super Power. And, most importantly, being God's one and only Chosen People.
Hi Tim
I am just writing a piece about the Digbeth tram line - where costs have rocketed to £352m from £227m in just four years, and it still won't be open until 2026 at earliest (other than very short extension to Clayton Hotel next year). If anyone can provide a brief expert comment on this huge cost please let me know.
READ MORE: £1 bn tram plan for Blues, NEC, HS2 and Birmingham Airport unveiled that will 'change lives'
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/first-look-new-tram-route-31816837
The line would then continue along Bordesley Green East on to Meadway to Chelmsley Wood before, most likely, snaking down Chelmsley Road and Coleshill Heath Road, bypassing the Rolls Royce premises.
The indicative line then dissects the Airport on one side and the NEC and Resorts World on the other, via Birmingham International train station, before turning east to the new HS2 interchange station and Arden Cross science and health campus nearby.
Estimates published as part of a new funding deal agreed with the Government suggest the first phase of the scheme - covering less than 1.5 miles - from Curzon Street, site of the new HS2 station, via Digbeth to St Andrew's, would cost £400 million.
The costs would also include planning and designing the whole line, including detailed design, surveys and public consultation for the whole 10 miles route, and putting in the most complicated section from Digbeth to Small Heath, including designing the best way for the line to cross the Lawley Middleway/A45 ring road.
that you have all nicely destroyed for a tramway, a test track, a cycle-walkway, buildings and fresh air. What utter incompetence and stupidity. What a joke! Station Hotel in Dudley now has to be renamed 'Tram Stop Hotel' - it is bang opposite Castle Hill tram stop where the important mainline railway station used to be for 100 years.
Dear Tom
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-05-28/ty-article-magazine/.premium/yes-to-transfer-82-of-jewish-israelis-back-expelling-gazans/00000197-12a4-df22-a9d7-9ef6af930000
"A new survey showing that 82 percent of Jewish Israelis support the expulsion of Gazans was met with disbelief among those who stubbornly believe that the extremists are outliers. But these trends are as consistent as they are shocking."
" ... we have been able to put the money into our frontline public services but crucially more investment money.
"As a result today we are able to announce £15.6 bn of investment including £2.4bn coming to the West Midlands for Richard Parker to spend on the priorities of the people here in the West Midlands."
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, speaking against a backdrop of a group of young apprentices and local politicians, said the Government was committed to supporting 'left behind' parts of the country to unlock growth.
The much vaunted line will run from the city centre to the Sports Quarter, then later go on to Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham Airport, the NEC and the HS2 interchange at Arden Cross. The first phase could be ready in five years.
READ MORE: £1 bn tram plan for Blues, NEC, HS2 and Birmingham Airport unveiled that will 'change lives'
The West Midlands is one of several regions handed a package of investment for local transport in today's announcement. The aim is to ensure transport schemes are in place to help unlock jobs, skills, housing and opportunities in poorer parts of the country.
Other transport initiatives to be funded by the West Midlands package are yet to be confirmed. A total of £15.6 billion of investment was announced nationally.
READ MORE: Why tram line to East Birmingham, Blues, Airport and NEC has to happen
Mayor Parker said: "This funding means we can now deliver a new Metro line to the Sports Quarter, connecting it to Birmingham city centre and unlocking one of the most significant private investments our region has ever seen.
Tom, You are my elected representative. It would be nice to get a reply, my friend. This time?
Would Chris Baines meet me at Merry Hill Shopping Centre for me to show him Daniels Land that might be an SSSI, such is its isolation from human hand and foot for many decades. I would like his opinion, please. There is no official access but it can be viewed from the Dudley No 1 Canal towpath opposite M&S and Next. It looks important for wildlife but is down for housing development
"OCTOPUS: RECOMMENDED BY 'WHICH' EIGHT YEARS RUNNING" (bright, cheerful, cheeky Global Player advert!)
My long list of questions, in an earlier email to Octopus, do need to be answered by Octopus with one sensible answer to each question, please.
The same excellent service I had from Good Energy over FIT, now needs to be quickly seen and maintained by Octopus, so that I no longer lose FIT and SEG payments.
Are Octopus able to supply me with quarterly reminders of when FIT generation readings must be sent?
Why has this never been done, so far?
Can Octopus take export readings from my smart meter?
Or, do I have to send them in manually?
Should Octopus supply a smart meter that IS able to send export readings to them?
Dear John
Why not use existing transport infrastructure for their design purpose and a century of use?
Why not get the existing public transport at least as good as the average on the mainland of Europe?
Would 150 miles of tramways simply make for a more complicated and slower public transport journey - with three modes instead of two - meaning more changes?
The tram is like a "bus on rails" and, therefore, accelerates the Climate Emergency with all the concrete and steel having to be used, when both are very high in greenhouse gas emissions from their manufacture.
TfWM/WMCA intention is to spend £15 BILLION (Jan 2020 figure) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 150 miles of tramways in our region.
INSTEAD, could that money go on extending Fare-Free Public Transport (FFPT) to everyone in the region?
Spend it on electric buses and finishing the electrification of the railway network.
Spend it on level access from pavement bus stop to bus door - for smooth access for all on four wheels or pushing four wheels.
Spend it on returning TRAINS to the remaining railway network and not trams.
Spend it on recording and fining those thoughtless car commuters who could leave their motors at home and enjoy the reward of FFPT. In this way, the roads are freed up for essential vehicle users and GHG are reduced.
Spend it on retrofitting the homes of the poorest to make their houses solar-powered, energy-efficient and super-insulated. Get the money back from wealthy landowners by the established practices.
My personal example - if I can do it ... My own house completed Climate compliance on 30 November 2023 when the gas meter was taken out (and £30/mth total energy, less a huge sum in what I export)! In 1992/3 I gave up my right to claim car mileage by cycle commuting and, on official council business, cycling for work calls - for over 90% of the days for the last 20 years of work. So 15p/mile instead of 40p/mile!
I've had regional FFPT for the last 17.5 years. Everyone needs it! (0791 380 4363)
The people to write to: customerservices@tfwm.org.uk AND customerservices@wmca.org.uk
As a result, people pile into their cars and add to the deepening Climate Emergency and congested roads.
Why not use existing transport infrastructure for their design purpose and a century of use?
Why not get the existing public transport at least as good as the average on the mainland of Europe?
Would 150 miles of tramways simply make for a more complicated and slower public transport journey - with three modes instead of two - meaning more changes?
The tram is like a "bus on rails" and, therefore, accelerates the Climate Emergency with all the concrete and steel having to be used, when both are very high in greenhouse gas emissions from their manufacture.
TfWM/WMCA intention is to spend £15 BILLION (Jan 2020 figure) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 150 miles of tramways in our region.
INSTEAD, could that money go on extending Fare-Free Public Transport (FFPT) to everyone in the region?
Spend it on electric buses and finishing the electrification of the railway network.
Spend it on level access from pavement bus stop to bus door - for smooth access for all on four wheels or pushing four wheels.
Spend it on returning TRAINS to the remaining railway network and not trams.
Spend it on recording and fining those thoughtless car commuters who could leave their motors at home and enjoy the reward of FFPT. In this way, the roads are freed up for essential vehicle users and GHG are reduced.
Spend it on retrofitting the homes of the poorest to make their houses solar-powered, energy-efficient and super-insulated. Get the money back from wealthy landowners by the established practices.
My personal example - if I can do it ... My own house completed Climate compliance on 30 November 2023 when the gas meter was taken out! In 1992/3 I gave up my right to claim car mileage by cycle commuting and, on official council business, cycling for work calls - for over 90% of the days for the last 20 years of work. So 15p/mile instead of 40p/mile!
I've had regional FFPT for the last 17.5 years. Everyone needs it! (0791 380 4363)
The people to write to: customerservices@tfwm.org.uk AND customerservices@wmca.org.uk
