HS2 price increase
 

How can this be?
Surly companies bid to do the job for a price?
If the price is allowed to go up and up then there is no incentive to get the price right in the first place.

With so many unemployed and in prison don't we have a workforce?
Chain gangs and working for your unemployment money? We also have those that have to do community service.

Is bidding below the actual price a deliberate ploy, are back handers being taken?

macafee2

Without a doubt, yes

Its all the faffing about and delays that drive up the cost. People love changing their minds, all drives costs one way!

Could not agree more. With the mega queues at the Dartford crossing yesterday we are still holding yet more enquires as to if we need another crossing and where it should be sited.

Went to an exhibition a couple of years ago and was told build time would be about 5 years from project go ahead.

So we are looking at 2024 if they start this year.

If the Dartford crossing is computerised, meaning either pay up front, or pay within 24 hours, so why is there mega holdups.

Rev

Like that wasn’t a dot on the cards. Every major undertaking is now over budget or behind time. Should have clauses built in to stop all this

Biggest farce here was the trams in Edinburgh. Original budget was £375 million and a completion date in 2009. Final cost was £776 million, the planned network was halved and the first tram was over five years behind schedule!

There are clauses in all infrastructure projects to allow for unforeseen circs. Such as route changes.
Try telling that to those who's houses were compulsorily bought for less than market value (the owners were forced to comply with the Authority deciding to 'offer' what the owners paid some years before!) and were then sold to local authorities at higher prices.

The big deals attract only a limited field of contractors that have the plant etc for the work needed or advantageous hire availability. Ergo, the same old same old firms have deep contacts within the corridors.

There is, apparently, oversight on dealings and personal contacts but the oversighters apparently need others overseeing them.

I can understand why some feel the need to get from B'ham to London 20 minutes earlier, but to get from London to B'ham quicker?

Apologies to Brummies.

my daughter I think wants to gamble and buy a house to rent out that will be close to the route. The other partner in the bank has been approached :)

macafee2

Can anyone name a sizable project that was delivered on time and to the original budget?

I can't think of even a single one.

How many times have the National Audit Office criticized the end results along with saying there hasn't been value for money?

If all these projects are so wonderful how about private capital being the ONLY source of funding.

The company that "wins" controls the market and can charge whatever they like.

Then they'll either be very rich if they have got it right OR bankrupt if not.

Absolutely no bailouts etc.

Why don't I think this will ever happen ;)

Andy.