Quote: "
Did anyone in the DofT think it would be a good idea if the M6 stopped one mile short of the M1? Or the M40 stop one mile short of the M25?"
In fairness, the M3 and M4
do stop well short of London (probably because they were built too late!). They also failed to complete a Paris-style "peripheral" highway that the motorways could link into!
However, bits of it were started and can be seen around Shepherds Bush, the elevated "westway" in Notting Hill, Trinity Road underpass in Wandsworth, and the north and south approaches of the Blackwall Tunnel.
That illustrates the lack of joined-up thinking so well!
Doubtless there are countless other examples up and down the country.
Quote: "
Why is the UK suddenly innundated with numbskulls in government and the civil service? Is this the result of 15 years of 'enrichment', that we now get Indian civil planning?"
That's a
very good question,
silverstrata!
Quote: "
And the TGV is far from being the Ryan Air of rail in France."
In fairness the "FR of the railways" comment referred specifically to the daft HS2 proposals
as presently constituted, and the nonsense at Stratford on the Eurostar/HS1 (Javelin).
Quote: "
It may not go to the city center, which is a bit of a pain, but there is always a bus into town."
At Paris-Nord, at least, the Eurostar and TGV are at the same station!
At London, they won't be. At Stratford, the Eurostar/HS1 (Javelin) and the rest of the interchange are a mile apart.
The "bus into town" concept defeats the purpose of HS rail. Time saved on travelling is lost faffing around before and after. It then becomes no different to traipsing out to the airport!
Quote: "
Its a good service, and I have been surprised to find it always nearly full."
Not surprised the TGV trains are full. Unlike HS1,
AFAIK, there isn't a premium payment for riding high speed trains in France, and train fares are lower anyway.
They can't get it right on the roads and railways, are we surprised they've messed it up on airports policy as well?!