Analysis What would Isambard Kingdom Brunel have done?
Mar 11, 2024
Podcast explores how Isambard Kingdom Brunel's bold engineering designs could tackle current UK infrastructure woes, with a focus on HS2 project controversies, funding challenges, and historical vs present-day project management complexities.
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Brunel's Railway Vision
- Brunel's Great Western Railway, a groundbreaking infrastructure project, differed significantly from existing railways.
- His vision included unique track designs, grand stations, and a comprehensive system, showcasing his ambition.
The Cost of Progress
- Brunel's relentless pursuit of progress and innovation sometimes came at a high cost, including the lives of workers.
- Around 100 men died during the construction of the two-mile-long tunnel near Bath.
HS2 Setbacks
- HS2, initially planned as a Y-shaped network connecting London, Birmingham, Leeds, and Manchester, has faced significant setbacks.
- Rising costs led to the cancellation of the northern legs, leaving a much smaller route at double the initial budget.