Comments for New Civil Engineer

Comment on Reinstatement of disused railway in Lancashire tabled by Tom

Tom — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 23:37:24 +0000

So where would that leave the long running campaign to reopen Colne to Skipton ?

Comment on Can DfT justify its promise of a new £2bn Bradford station? by Ken Bowman

Ken Bowman — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 10:51:43 +0000

The author of the article on the proposed Bradford station seems content with the statement that “there was no business case for a £500m station” along with Arup’s statement “that it would bring benefits 60 times its cost” without discussing this apparent anomaly.

Comment on Hinkley Point C proposes creation of saltmarsh as alternative to acoustic fish deterrent by David Howard

David Howard — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 12:41:39 +0000

Hinkley Point C head of environment Chris Fayers said:…..“Hinkley Point C is one of Britain’s biggest acts in the fight against climate change and its operation will provide significant benefits for the environment.”

What an incredible statement, just how does Hinkley C fight against the climate changing effects of:

– The Milankovitch Cycles
– El Nino Southern Oscillation
– Solar Irradiance
– Volcanic Eruptions
– Plate Tectonics

Such professional climate change alarmists as Fayers are feeding the populist frenzy surrounding climate change leading to politicians making stupid decisions and wholly unrealistic promises to unachievable programmes at inordinate cost.

Comment on £5M lagoon built to stop Gloucestershire railway flooding failed during Storm Henk by I Knight

I Knight — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:26:34 +0000

It appears from the comments by Network Rail that the system performed within it’s design parameters, so did not “fail” but was overwhelmed. NCE needs to be more careful about its terminology, not following the lead of the popular press in lambasting engineers for working within constraints.

Comment on Government pledges to work with tidal range sector to explore its potential by Roger Falconer

Roger Falconer — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 07:59:23 +0000

It is encouraging to note that the Government has pledged to work with the tidal range sector to explore the potential of delivering a significant source of indigenous and predictable energy from our tides, and particularly along the western coast of the UK where we have some of the highest tidal ranges world-wide.

Comment on HS2 chief says government’s inability to afford construction schedule contributed to overruns by John Porter

John Porter — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 12:03:24 +0000

Something needs to replace HS2 Phase 2 eventually. NCE online reported on 6th December that “The mayors of the West Midlands and Manchester… have formed a private sector group to explore how rail connectivity can be improved between their two regions.”
Elsewhere a link from HS2 to the Birmingham to Derby line was considered as part of the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP). A formal high speed line to Trent Junction was funded within the £96bn IRP and a much cheaper alternative is still feasible – if HS2 trains replace the existing Cross Country Nottingham/ /Derby to Cardiff service. The Cardiff service can simply be diverted via Leicester and Birmingham Moor Street, which is adjacent to HS2 Curzon Street – a project already funded by money recently reallocated from HS2 Phase 2.
Alongside that HS2 trains reaching Derby in 55 to 60 minutes, could replace the Birmingham New Street & Airport to Sheffield, York and beyond Cross Country services – if some HS2 trains divide at Derby or Birmingham.
To keep those reasonable ambitions alive, affordable Passive Provision at Euston and north of Birmingham is needed for connections to Derby and for a few HS2 trains to be diverted to Euston WCML platforms IF EVER needed. The latter requires the short third HS2 Euston approach tunnel planned for 10 HS2 platforms to be kept – and modified a little during the current pause.
A privately funded compromise at Euston is well worth considering – if it relieves BOTH the WCML & Midland Main Line and is consistent with Mayors Burnham & Street’s current north of Birmingham study.

Comment on HS2 chief says government’s inability to afford construction schedule contributed to overruns by David Hall

David Hall — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:16:57 +0000

Doesn’t the artists illustration heading this article point to where so much cost is going … overindulgent, over engineered solutions, trying in ridiculous way to satisfy everyone … and in the process satisfying none with its cost and time debacle.
It sounds like the new Chief is again failing to remember that when you point your finger at others, there are three fingers pointing back at yourself … and the ‘yourself’ here is the whole enterprise, design and contractor community as well as client.

Comment on Former Environment Agency manager says ‘we can’t engineer our way out’ of flooding from climate breakdown by Roger Falconer

Roger Falconer — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 07:42:56 +0000

In reply to jgcanton@googlemail.com.qsi. Thanks Derek, you cite another interesting example. My fundamental problem is the headline that 'we can't engineer our way out' of flooding. Engineers put a man on the moon over 50 years ago, and I could cite many other remarkable engineering achievements over the centuries. I do not accept the view that engineers cannot solve the flooding challenges. I believe that by comparison with many other engineering challenges over time, the risk of flooding can be significantly reduced. We just need more support from the stakeholder community to enable engineers to get on with the challenge of designing what's necessary to reduce flood risk.

Comment on Former Environment Agency manager says ‘we can’t engineer our way out’ of flooding from climate breakdown by nigel.scott@blueyonder.co.uk.qsi

nigel.scott@blueyonder.co.uk.qsi — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 13:20:18 +0000

I would also draw readers attention to the Banbury Flood Alleviation Scheme which is similar to the Skipton Scheme but uses innovative passive control of the river channel flows by double-baffle orifices as described in this paper: https://britishdams.org/2012conf/papers/6 Construction – new dams and upgrades/Papers/6.5 Ackers – The design and construction of Banbury flood storage reservoir.pdf

Comment on Former Environment Agency manager says ‘we can’t engineer our way out’ of flooding from climate breakdown by derek.stewartsmith2@btopenworld.com.qsi

derek.stewartsmith2@btopenworld.com.qsi — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 11:13:49 +0000

In reply to Roger Falconer.

I agree with Roger. There was a new housing development constructed in the 80’s at Sudbury where the local stream would have been overloaded by the intense run off from the new estate.
A small slotted dam was incorporated in the local stream to restrict the down stream flows
The peak flows were stored locally on open ground forming part of the estate.
All landowners with streams that feed into local rivers must be encouraged to construct storage reservoirs on their land to store valuable surface water on a similar basis.
Farmers in particular would benefit during the summer months with a valuable source of water for growing their crops during the long dry spells which are happening with climate change.
Grant aid provided for such schemes would be a more effective way of reducing the down stream floods in towns than expensive bank raising
If this could be done in the 80s why can’t it be done now?