High Speed Two

[John]

Also if London-Edin is transferred to HS2, I wonder what that would mean for ECML north of Newcastle? Downgrading, de-electrification, perhaps even total closure between Morpeth and Dunbar?

There's significant demand on CrossCountry, enough to warrant HSTs going north of Newcastle. I doubt the ECML would be shut or de-electrified, but there would be a reduction in services.

Even if de-electrifying it did made financial sense, any persons suggesting such would immediately be branded "Beeching" and would have committed almost certain political suicide.

One way Network Rail was justifying it was that HS2 would remove the long distance inter-city trains, freeing up space for commuter trains and freight traffic.

For HS2 going via the North East (Leeds and Newcastle) the following was said:

The London-North East & Scotland option would free up additional train capacity on
the East Coast Main Line and Midland Main Line. However, at present there is no
requirement to provide additional passenger capacity on these lines due to planned
schemes.

However, I would also point out Kevo00 that not all people heading to Edinburgh/North Scotland on the ECML originated in London - I assume a small but significant source is still the North East (Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle etc) who won't use HSL2 to get to Edinburgh and the further north...

Some other interesting sound bites

What about a connection to HS1?

A physical connection to HS1 will lead to a small modal shift from air to rail.
However, the same can be achieved through a simple interchange, particularly
if the London terminal was at or near St Pancras. A physical connection will be
expensive, operationally difficult and will be detrimental to the overall business
case – most people will want to go to London, not Europe.

[JGR]

Aparently it's how the French did it. Plus the majority of speed increases are to be had on long distances, since trains will already be crawling round station entrances on dedicated lines.

While I can't speak for all of France, from the numerous parts of the TGV network I know about (particularly around Paris), track into central stations is *much* wider, straighter and faster (number of tracks, layout, speed limit, general robustness) and in general HSTs can run at rather high speeds along these. Sometimes there are dedicated lanes as part of that, but often not...
In many cases you're going at high speed almost as fast as the train can accelerate out of/smoothly decelerate into the station.
Good luck doing that in London or Birmingham...

[teccuk]

Haha.

Here's mine.

Yes i know, stupid, never gonna happen. But would be cool.

[Ploes]

Why stop there?
If its going to be a separate High Speed network, I say we let Ireland get in on the act to!

[orudge]

Don't forget about Orkney and Shetland!

[Ploes]

Don't forget about Orkney and Shetland!

Thats just stilly.

If you going to put that kinda money in, you better make sure Cambletown and Stornoway get linked up.

[Ameecher]

I don't get the Anglesey link. I suppose linking in to ferries but how many daily sailings are there from Holyhead? Not enough to warrant High-Speed I bet. Money would be better spent increasing the line speed on the current hardly busy route.

[Ploes]

I don't get the Anglesey link. I suppose linking in to ferries but how many daily sailings are there from Holyhead? Not enough to warrant High-Speed I bet. Money would be better spent increasing the line speed on the current hardly busy route.

For the new High Speed ferry's that will be timed to meet the trains.

Of course this is only a temporary measure, while the UberMegaSuper Dublin tunnel is being built.

[JamieLei]

I say the Birmingham High Speed station should be right outside my house. There's a bit of grass there that noone uses, why not?

On a serious note, Virgin Trains run one train per day from Birmingham New Street to Holyhead (out in the morning, returning in the evening) specifically to connect with the Holyhead-Dublin ferry.

[railwayman]

Don't forget about Orkney and Shetland!

Thats just stilly.

If you going to put that kinda money in, you better make sure Cambletown and Stornoway get linked up.

It is silly. You need to get the Isle Of Men and Isle Of Wight (forgive if any mistakes, not from Britain) on the High Speed Rail map too. And dont forget about the Heart of Wales HSRL and maybe few more links in Ierland

hs234567.jpg (118.1 KiB) Viewed 565 times

[andysine]

Don't forget the Channel Islands!

Plus I added Birmingham to Norwich, as the current Central Trains service is too slow!

hs-extreme.jpg (201.86 KiB) Viewed 567 times

[doktorhonig]

This thread is just hilarious.

[orudge]

I don't get the Anglesey link. I suppose linking in to ferries but how many daily sailings are there from Holyhead? Not enough to warrant High-Speed I bet. Money would be better spent increasing the line speed on the current hardly busy route.

There are quite a few sailings from Holyhead - it is an extremely busy freight route. Probably not quite so busy with passenger traffic, though, with flying no doubt being an easier option for many people, or taking a ferry from somewhere else such as Liverpool or Fishguard or wherever.

[Ploes]

Lets keep going to Norway.

[EXTspotter]

You forgot the all important Newton Abbot - St. Andrews line (for possible uni interviews) along with the very important line from Torbay via Penzance to the Scilly Isles and Brest.

[orudge]

Those are going to be some interesting bridges or tunnels you're building there.

[John]

Those are going to be some interesting bridges or tunnels you're building there.

And connecting the Shetlands won't?

[noofnoof]

You are ALL nuts...

you forgot about bellrock lighthouse.

[railwayman]

You are ALL nuts...

you forgot about bellrock lighthouse.

Im not from UK so Im asking:
Where is it? Below Aberdeen?

PS. You all forgot the Atlantic Ocean tunnel to New York.

Its a railway eddition of the proposed maglev tunnel by which you could get from London to NY ino 1 hour.

[Kevo00]

That could be cool, then the UK could link into Obama's high speed system in the US!