Dear Patchers — Welcome to your Tuesday briefing.
Today’s top story sees the latest on the ongoing and (seemingly) forever-evolving story of HS2. The i newspaper has seen documents that suggest as a result of the cancelled northern leg, ticket prices will rise as rail bosses struggle with capacity issues. Indeed, prices are not the only issue — those in charge are increasingly concerned about room for passengers between major cities. The full story, and links to it, in today’s newsletter.
Elsewhere, we have notes on Birmingham City’s football league request, street justice in Westside, and a well-reviewed puppet show for adults.
Take care. Dan.
Brum in Brief
🚆HS2 fare rises: Train ticket prices are to rise between London, Birmingham and Manchester due to the cancellation of HS2. With the northern leg of the project canned, Britain’s railways face an overcrowding crisis and fares are expected to rise to curb demand. According to industry sources, price increases would be needed to artificially reduce demand, due to the lack of capacity. Norman Baker, former rail minister, said: “What we’ve ended up with is a disaster as the worst of all worlds… there is a desperate need to have another look at the Birmingham to Manchester line.” Full story.
⚽BCFC US request denied: English Football League bosses have turned down a request by Birmingham City’s owners to play next season’s League One fixture against Wrexham in the United States. If the bid was successful, it would’ve been the first ever competitive domestic fixture played outside of England or Wales. However, these weren’t the first discussions about English football being played in the US — often they are met with a backlash. Indeed, as one fan commented on X: “Hope the Birmingham fans let the owners know what a disgrace this is.” Whole story at a click.
🧼Soapy street justice: So-called ‘instant justice’ is not something that we usually come across as journalists but Westside BID is celebrating its street wardens getting a graffiti tagger, caught defacing a UB40 tribute, to clean up his work immediately. Faced with arrest and potential criminal damage charges, the tagger — who has not been named — agreed to clean up his scrawls instead and was reportedly provided with a bucket of hot soapy water and cloths from nearby venues. Read more about this unusual turn of events.
🥫Brum charity focus: Islamic Relief, a large charity headquartered in Birmingham, has said that demand for food parcels around Eid has risen this year. Usually, the charity focuses on delivering aid to poorer countries, like Sudan and Pakistan, but is redirecting donations to people closer at home in Birmingham. A partner of the charity, Adil Parker (of Masjid Al Falaah) said: "Put it this way, last year we distributed 200 parcels and it took us two days. Earlier this year during Ramadan we gave out another 200 food parcels and it only took 20 minutes.” Full story.
🍹Rum-dinger: For fans of fermented sugarcane and molasses, you can head down to The Cuban Embassy this Saturday for the seventh iteration of the Birmingham Rum Festival. Guests will be able to sample an impressive selection of premium rums sourced from various corners of the globe, from the Caribbean's traditional distilleries to the emerging artisanal producers. Live music and street food will be on all day with a special cocktail menu available too. Further details.
🎭Ventriloquist’s delight: A sell-out performance from the Edinburgh Fringe, Voices of Evil is the puppetry show from the mind of rising star Lachlan Werner and is on twice this weekend at the Old Joint Stock in central Birmingham. Given four stars by the broadsheets, it’s been called surprising, rebellious and the “definitive queer puppet show”. Tickets here.
So … what happens when you put 200 mph trains that can’t tilt on to 125 mph limit tracks engineered for trains that lean into the bends? They have to travel slower at times than the trains currently using those tracks. And hold those trains up as a result. You’d think basic numeracy wasn’t beyond any government. No way to run a railway.
Re the article on HS2 cancellation causing overcrowding . I do not believe this article , it is designed to cause alarm and influence the outcome of the elrction . I understood that even if all legs of HS2 had been completed the existing tracks and rolling stocks would still continue separately so there would be no intention of using HS2 rolling stock on non HS2 lines.