Latest news with #HighSpeedRail


RTHK
2 days ago
- Climate
- RTHK
MTR suspends open-air services leaving some stranded
MTR suspends open-air services leaving some stranded Train services on exposed, open-air sections were halted, while underground lines maintained limited operations. Photo: RTHK Dozens of commuters were stranded at Kowloon Tong Station on Sunday, after strong winds associated with Typhoon Wipha led the Observatory to issue the Increasing Gale Signal No.9 at 7.20 am before raising it to the maximum No. 10 Hurricane Signal two hours later. Once the No.9 Signal is issued, MTR train services on exposed and open-air sections are suspended. That includes East Rail Line services to the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau border crossings. Underground lines maintain limited operations. "I already know that the weather here isn't going to be good, so I didn't plan a longer stay here. Just to stay a couple of days to meet some friends. It's just maybe I am so lucky that I get this severe weather. I haven't come up with an idea yet. It is what it is," said a woman surnamed Wang, who was struggling with her luggage. A passenger surnamed Lin said she had hit a dead end trying to return to the mainland. As hotel prices soared, she said she was desperate to leave. "I'm completely overwhelmed. We can't get back! Our flight was scheduled for this morning but last night we were informed that it would be cancelled. Then we thought we could take the High Speed Rail to Shenzhen instead but those train services are suspended too. We have no choice," she said. The Disneyland Resort Line, Airport Express, Light Rail, and all MTR bus services also ceased operations. All morning trips and some of the afternoon trips for High Speed Rail train services between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the mainland were cancelled or had their departing station changed.


South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Why US, China railway industries want collaboration fast-tracked
Rail-transport companies from China and the US remain committed to strengthening cooperation – including on projects in third-country markets – even as a trade rivalry between the two largest economies chugs along. With the US being a long-time leader in freight rail and urban transit, and China having emerged as a global powerhouse in high-speed rail, the two sides could deepen cooperation in the rail-transport sector, said Everett Wakai, minister counsellor for commercial affairs at the US embassy in Beijing. He spoke during the US-China Rail Transit Industry Roundtable on Friday at the China International Supply Chain Expo. Representatives from some US companies with ties to the rail sector were there. A key talking point was the potential for supply-chain cooperation. Guan Jiaxin, vice-president of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, said the state-owned giant cooperates extensively with US companies when it comes to equipment. 'Major projects and markets led by our company are widely using construction machinery from Caterpillar and generators from Cummins,' Guan said during the round-table chat. Caterpillar and Cummins were two of the American firms in attendance. 'We look forward to exploring more cooperation opportunities with the US in overseas projects investment, building and operating, such as joint financing, design and consulting … in markets where US firms have a strong presence, such as Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe,' he said.


Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
HS2 has suffered ‘significant cost' from legal challenges by public bodies
HS2 has incurred 'significant cost' because public bodies have launched nine legal challenges against it, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. The Cabinet minister noted that in 'almost all cases', the courts have found in favour of the high-speed rail scheme between London and Birmingham. HS2 Ltd was given the power to construct the railway when the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act received royal assent in February 2017. The most recent of the nine legal challenges the project has faced from other public bodies since then was launched by North Warwickshire Borough Council in relation to the extension of the under-construction Bromford Tunnel. In May, the High Court rejected the council's bid for a judicial review. Since royal assent was obtained, there have also been 25 appeals relating to the HS2 planning regime. In a six-monthly written update to Parliament on HS2, Ms Alexander acknowledged it is 'right there are checks and balances embedded in our legal and planning systems', but expressed concern these are being used to 'frustrate the delivery of consented projects'. She wrote: 'The delivery of HS2 has continued during this period to be the subject of both legal and planning challenges, which have added significant cost, uncertainty and potential for delay.' She added: 'The Government continues to monitor this issue closely and will consider further interventions where appropriate, alongside its wider work on planning reform.' Ms Alexander also announced that she has lifted safeguarding on the majority of land protected for HS2's former Phase 2b eastern leg between Birmingham and Leeds, which was cancelled in November 2021. Safeguarding is used to stop land from being developed in a way that would conflict with future schemes. More than 550 properties were acquired by HS2 Ltd ahead of the planned construction of Phase 2b's eastern section. Removing safeguarding means the process of selling them can begin. Former owners of property within the safeguarding zone, which was acquired by HS2 Ltd will be given the opportunity to buy it back at the current market value. HS2 has suffered repeated delays and soaring costs. Ms Alexander announced last month there was 'no route' to meet the target date of having HS2 services running by 2033. In her update to Parliament, the Secretary of State said her department is working with HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Wild to 'reset' the project, with the aim of providing an 'updated delivery baseline and funding envelope in 2026'. She went on: 'Until this work is completed, this Government is not in a position to say with confidence how much HS2 will cost or when it will be delivered. 'That is a deeply unsatisfactory position, but it is necessary to complete the hard work we have embarked upon.' HS2 was originally planned to run between London and Birmingham, then on to Manchester and Leeds, but the project was severely curtailed by the Conservatives in power because of spiralling costs. The first phase was initially scheduled to open by the end of 2026, but this was later pushed back to between 2029 and 2033. In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost £37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham. In June last year, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to £66 billion.

ITV News
3 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
HS2 has suffered ‘significant cost' from legal challenges by public bodies
HS2 has incurred 'significant cost' because public bodies have launched nine legal challenges against it, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. The Cabinet minister noted that in 'almost all cases', the courts have found in favour of the high-speed rail scheme between London and Birmingham. HS2 Ltd was given the power to construct the railway when the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act received royal assent in February 2017. The most recent of the nine legal challenges the project has faced from other public bodies since then was launched by North Warwickshire Borough Council in relation to the extension of the under-construction Bromford Tunnel. In May, the High Court rejected the council's bid for a judicial review. Since royal assent was obtained, there have also been 25 appeals relating to the HS2 planning regime. In a six-monthly written update to Parliament on HS2, Ms Alexander acknowledged it is 'right there are checks and balances embedded in our legal and planning systems', but expressed concern these are being used to 'frustrate the delivery of consented projects'. She wrote: 'The delivery of HS2 has continued during this period to be the subject of both legal and planning challenges, which have added significant cost, uncertainty and potential for delay.' She added: 'The Government continues to monitor this issue closely and will consider further interventions where appropriate, alongside its wider work on planning reform.' Ms Alexander also announced that she has lifted safeguarding on the majority of land protected for HS2's former Phase 2b eastern leg between Birmingham and Leeds, which was cancelled in November 2021. Safeguarding is used to stop land from being developed in a way that would conflict with future schemes. More than 550 properties were acquired by HS2 Ltd ahead of the planned construction of Phase 2b's eastern section. Removing safeguarding means the process of selling them can begin. Former owners of property within the safeguarding zone, which was acquired by HS2 Ltd will be given the opportunity to buy it back at the current market value. HS2 has suffered repeated delays and soaring costs. Ms Alexander announced last month there was 'no route' to meet the target date of having HS2 services running by 2033. In her update to Parliament, the Secretary of State said her department is working with HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Wild to 'reset' the project, with the aim of providing an 'updated delivery baseline and funding envelope in 2026'. She went on: 'Until this work is completed, this Government is not in a position to say with confidence how much HS2 will cost or when it will be delivered. 'That is a deeply unsatisfactory position, but it is necessary to complete the hard work we have embarked upon.' HS2 was originally planned to run between London and Birmingham, then on to Manchester and Leeds, but the project was severely curtailed by the Conservatives in power because of spiralling costs. The first phase was initially scheduled to open by the end of 2026, but this was later pushed back to between 2029 and 2033. In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost £37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham. In June last year, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to £66 billion.

South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
HS2 has suffered ‘significant cost' from legal challenges by public bodies
The Cabinet minister noted that in 'almost all cases', the courts have found in favour of the high-speed rail scheme between London and Birmingham. HS2 Ltd was given the power to construct the railway when the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act received royal assent in February 2017. The most recent of the nine legal challenges the project has faced from other public bodies since then was launched by North Warwickshire Borough Council in relation to the extension of the under-construction Bromford Tunnel. In May, the High Court rejected the council's bid for a judicial review. Since royal assent was obtained, there have also been 25 appeals relating to the HS2 planning regime. In a six-monthly written update to Parliament on HS2, Ms Alexander acknowledged it is 'right there are checks and balances embedded in our legal and planning systems', but expressed concern these are being used to 'frustrate the delivery of consented projects'. She wrote: 'The delivery of HS2 has continued during this period to be the subject of both legal and planning challenges, which have added significant cost, uncertainty and potential for delay.' She added: 'The Government continues to monitor this issue closely and will consider further interventions where appropriate, alongside its wider work on planning reform.' Ms Alexander also announced that she has lifted safeguarding on the majority of land protected for HS2's former Phase 2b eastern leg between Birmingham and Leeds, which was cancelled in November 2021. Safeguarding is used to stop land from being developed in a way that would conflict with future schemes. More than 550 properties were acquired by HS2 Ltd ahead of the planned construction of Phase 2b's eastern section. Removing safeguarding means the process of selling them can begin. Former owners of property within the safeguarding zone, which was acquired by HS2 Ltd will be given the opportunity to buy it back at the current market value. HS2 has suffered repeated delays and soaring costs. Ms Alexander announced last month there was 'no route' to meet the target date of having HS2 services running by 2033. In her update to Parliament, the Secretary of State said her department is working with HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Wild to 'reset' the project, with the aim of providing an 'updated delivery baseline and funding envelope in 2026'. She went on: 'Until this work is completed, this Government is not in a position to say with confidence how much HS2 will cost or when it will be delivered. 'That is a deeply unsatisfactory position, but it is necessary to complete the hard work we have embarked upon.' HS2 was originally planned to run between London and Birmingham, then on to Manchester and Leeds, but the project was severely curtailed by the Conservatives in power because of spiralling costs. The first phase was initially scheduled to open by the end of 2026, but this was later pushed back to between 2029 and 2033. In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost £37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham. In June last year, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to £66 billion.