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I noticed that the railways solved the problem of delayed trains by simply not running trains, many lines had no trains at all.
#15 I fully agree, electricity is going to become a huge problem once the nukes get to the end of their life and the coal stations get shut down for carbon compliance. They say brown out or blackouts will become quite frequent come 2015, but no government's doing anything about it since it was recognised as an issue 10-15 years ago. Google "UK blackouts 2015" and you'll find plenty of articles about it. This of course will also shaft a lot of electrical trains. :)
The optimum ideal world solution is to build Boris Island, with 4 runways, motorway links to the M25 N and S of the river, and HS rail links to HS1 and HS2 + extension of cross rail into town.
Justification:-
1) Built to 21st century standards and requirements
2) Doubling up of the runway capacity
3) With sufficient high speed transport links to the SE, Channel Tunnel and Midlands hinterland you could lift traffic from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham and Stansted + steal a bit more from Brussels and CDG.
4) Only things in the estuary are fish and fish don't have voting rights, so 24 hr operation would apply (major issue at Heathrow at the moment)
5) No barking crazy mad final approaches over a spectacularly densely populated metropolis that's also a key global finance centre.
It'll never happen, but it should.
I do see that Eurostars are running a hour late due to speed restrictions, in FRANCE. That's FRANCE in case anybody missed it.
I was actually wondering why they used RAF ones and not the NATO ones (I presume the A400Ms are not in service or the best choice for this operation). I figure because it doesn't fit within the fine print of the NATO remit or the planes haven't arrived yet (I don't think, but can't be arsed to check, the latter is correct).
And I've got no idea what you are suggesting with the idea of 'backhanders'.
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15
I think people have to accept that if we run things to capacity then when things go wrong then they really go wrong. LHR, the Underground and the railways are running at capacity. The next thing that I think will greatly affect us is electricity. We are closing older nuclear plants and coal fired. Building a few gas fired putting us at risk from flakey suppliers and wind putting as at risk from the weather then lets run at 99% capacity.I noticed that the railways solved the problem of delayed trains by simply not running trains, many lines had no trains at all.
18
#14 I saw that interview with the LGW boss. He carefully failed to mention that he has very limited capacity himself cos he only has 1 runway... If LHR is closed due to snow, LGW will be close to it anyway most likely given their proximity to one another. What they should (and did do) is divert to Stansted, Birmingham, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Manchester.#15 I fully agree, electricity is going to become a huge problem once the nukes get to the end of their life and the coal stations get shut down for carbon compliance. They say brown out or blackouts will become quite frequent come 2015, but no government's doing anything about it since it was recognised as an issue 10-15 years ago. Google "UK blackouts 2015" and you'll find plenty of articles about it. This of course will also shaft a lot of electrical trains. :)
20
It's 50 years out of date, that's what it is.The optimum ideal world solution is to build Boris Island, with 4 runways, motorway links to the M25 N and S of the river, and HS rail links to HS1 and HS2 + extension of cross rail into town.
Justification:-
1) Built to 21st century standards and requirements
2) Doubling up of the runway capacity
3) With sufficient high speed transport links to the SE, Channel Tunnel and Midlands hinterland you could lift traffic from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham and Stansted + steal a bit more from Brussels and CDG.
4) Only things in the estuary are fish and fish don't have voting rights, so 24 hr operation would apply (major issue at Heathrow at the moment)
5) No barking crazy mad final approaches over a spectacularly densely populated metropolis that's also a key global finance centre.
It'll never happen, but it should.
21
Realistically I don't think the planners would allow them to build a power station. I can't speak for other winters but this week I am not sure the criticisms are valid. But at least the Higways Agency didn't seem to get caught with their trousers down but where I am it hasn't been that cold. I mean they even ran some trains so it can't be cold.I do see that Eurostars are running a hour late due to speed restrictions, in FRANCE. That's FRANCE in case anybody missed it.
26
#24 lending is not literally correct in the same way KLM don't lend its passengers a plane to go Duiblin-Schipol. The RAF are supporting French operations and training. It is more a case of how will they repay for the tonnage movement.I was actually wondering why they used RAF ones and not the NATO ones (I presume the A400Ms are not in service or the best choice for this operation). I figure because it doesn't fit within the fine print of the NATO remit or the planes haven't arrived yet (I don't think, but can't be arsed to check, the latter is correct).
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Sure. Add a third and fourth runway to LHR, expand stansted, add a runway to LGW, and Boris island. None of which is going to happen for political, public activism and environmental reasons. I don't have an answer I can see becoming a reality.And I've got no idea what you are suggesting with the idea of 'backhanders'.
