Stafford Gateway Masterplan.

Studio Tan

Well-Known Forumite
Thought at first a lazy architect had just clipped out a piece of google earth from an aerial view of Brazilia, but when I angled in the actual chunk of Stafford it made sense. It looks as though we’ll be losing The Shoe Shed - but (just left of centre) we’ll be gaining a replica of the Dallas Texas School Book Depository (perhaps a portent to members of the planning committee not to take a triumphant parade in open cars to celebrate The Gateway’s completion ?)

gateway1.jpg
 
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Carole

Well-Known Forumite
I looked at hte photo of the artists impression of this ridiculous gateway and if my interpretation is correct, Castletown has been replaced with a lovely green area with the odd building and lots of trees. Just shows what a load of shite this all really i

No your interpretation is not correct. Castletown is not being replaced.

If you had bothered to look at at the map that @Wormella had very kindly taken the time to put on for everyone to view then you would see exactly where it's all going.

The article in the Newsletter did say " the designs are indicative only" but that's you all over... @kyoto

Any excuse to have a moan at Stafford.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
HS2 phase 1 will run to Birmingham. It will also run beyond Birmingham to join the current West Coast main line near Lichfield. This will allow high speed trains to run to Stafford, and on to Liverpool.

You give the impression that hs2 will run on existing track once it gets to Stafford but the map I saw doesn't show hs2 coming close to Stafford. It runs up the Trent valley on to Hopton and stone and then alongside the m6 for a bit before going on to Crewe. So I'm interested in your source? My understanding, limited as it is on hs2 is that we'd need to get a train from Stafford to a hs2 station such as Crewe or Lichfield interchange which surely is more hassle than the current nice speedy virgin train. Or am I missing something?
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
You give the impression that hs2 will run on existing track once it gets to Stafford but the map I saw doesn't show hs2 coming close to Stafford. It runs up the Trent valley on to Hopton and stone and then alongside the m6 for a bit before going on to Crewe. So I'm interested in your source? My understanding, limited as it is on hs2 is that we'd need to get a train from Stafford to a hs2 station such as Crewe or Lichfield interchange which surely is more hassle than the current nice speedy virgin train. Or am I missing something?


Just the war

Otherwise spot on
 

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
You give the impression that hs2 will run on existing track once it gets to Stafford but the map I saw doesn't show hs2 coming close to Stafford. It runs up the Trent valley on to Hopton and stone and then alongside the m6 for a bit before going on to Crewe. So I'm interested in your source? My understanding, limited as it is on hs2 is that we'd need to get a train from Stafford to a hs2 station such as Crewe or Lichfield interchange which surely is more hassle than the current nice speedy virgin train. Or am I missing something?

http://www.51m.co.uk/stafford-hs2-hub-set-to-slash-journey-times-from-black-country-to-london/

Don't go to Lichfield, you may be waiting a while....

hs2ltd-map-of-y-network-showing-crewe-having-full-high-speed-station.png
 

daz100

Well-Known Forumite
You give the impression that hs2 will run on existing track once it gets to Stafford but the map I saw doesn't show hs2 coming close to Stafford. It runs up the Trent valley on to Hopton and stone and then alongside the m6 for a bit before going on to Crewe. So I'm interested in your source? My understanding, limited as it is on hs2 is that we'd need to get a train from Stafford to a hs2 station such as Crewe or Lichfield interchange which surely is more hassle than the current nice speedy virgin train. Or am I missing something?

https://www.expressandstar.com/news...h-journey-times-from-black-country-to-london/
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Plenty of time for Dublin to become significantly a more important a city than London thanks to the Leave voters

Perhaps a Holyhead tunnel would be more relevant

'They' haven't even finished building the college that the builders of HS2 will have to attend, never mind laying tracks or fitting locomotives

The High Speed Menai Express for city folk , calling at the new Mayfair, Colwyn Bay...
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite

Thanks.

Given that current jopurney times are as little as 1.10hr I'm not sure that this will be much quicker, or will the WCML get downgraded to force passengers on the HS2 which I expect will be extortionately priced? A bit like everything in Conservative Britain, poor people on the slow train, rich people on the fast one? Mind, it's alread ya bit like that with London midland/Virgin :/
 

basil

don't mention the blinds
I've no idea how long it takes to build a cinema, or indeed what obstacles lie in their way, as previously used sites often through up interesting curve balls - which I'm assuming is the story behind the asbestos poly tunnels. I don't even know how many companies in the UK are tooled up to build a cinema, and maybe Stafford just has to wait it's turn - but I do see progress on that site, and I'm sure if these plans get a go ahead progress there as well.





Pile driving on the site commencing next week, expecting 4 weeks of noise.....
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
Thanks.

Given that current jopurney times are as little as 1.10hr I'm not sure that this will be much quicker, or will the WCML get downgraded to force passengers on the HS2 which I expect will be extortionately priced? A bit like everything in Conservative Britain, poor people on the slow train, rich people on the fast one? Mind, it's alread ya bit like that with London midland/Virgin :/

The plan, as I understand it, is for an hourly non-stop High Speed service from Stafford to London and London to Stafford taking 53 minutes.

I would guess that the service, along the existing West Coast line, will then be adjusted to call at more stations en route, which will increase the journey time (currently the fastest services are non-stop in 76 minutes).

And yes, I would expect High Speed services to be more expensive, but not hugely so. Probably something like an extra 20% or so.
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
The plan, as I understand it, is for an hourly non-stop High Speed service from Stafford to London and London to Stafford taking 53 minutes.

I would guess that the service, along the existing West Coast line, will then be adjusted to call at more stations en route, which will increase the journey time (currently the fastest services are non-stop in 76 minutes).

And yes, I would expect High Speed services to be more expensive, but not hugely so. Probably something like an extra 20% or so.


Will any of us still be alive when this occurs
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
Is it the same sort of plan as when we were told that Eurostars would be stopping here?
Good point. Nothing is certain until it happens.

Those Eurostar services made the printed timetables that were put up on the platforms. The service was pulled (by the Government) just before it was due to commence after 'we' had spent hundreds of millions on the infrastructure and rolling stock.
 
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