'HS3' to be called Northern Powerhouse Rail

[northwichcat]

HS3 now called Northern Powerhouse Rail, government confirms

The proposed east-west high-speed rail link planned for after HS2 will be called Northern Powerhouse Rail, transport minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon has revealed.

In a written answer to Lib Dem Lord Scriven, the former leader of Sheffield City Council, Lord Wimbledon used the name to refer to the government’s proposals for HS3.

Lord Scriven had asked about the timescale for the delivery of the HS3 scheme, and what budget would be allocated to it, to which the transport minister answered: “By March 2016, we will conduct an initial prioritisation of options to focus further work and inform the development of an appropriate timeline for implementation.

“The government has also established a new £300m Transport Development Fund, which following advice from the National Infrastructure Commission, could support the development of proposals such as Northern Powerhouse Rail (HS3).”

http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/hs3-now-called-northern-powerhouse-rail

Makes sense to me to not use the 'HS' prefix as it'll more like the WCML, ECML, GWML and MML opposed to HS1 and HS2. However, as for calling it 'Northern Powerhouse Rail' I think if Labour get in and the scheme goes ahead that name will be revised again.

 

[najaB]

However, as for calling it 'Northern Powerhouse Rail' I think if Labour get in and the scheme goes ahead that name will be revised again.

As long as it gets built they can call it whatever they want!

 

[adrock1976]

I have a wonderful idea here in regards to what the new line could be called.

It could simply be called the "New Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway".

 

[Sapphire Blue]

I have a wonderful idea here in regards to what the new line could be called.

It could simply be called the "New Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway".

. . . and when its been open for a while - let's say about 10 days - the could drop the "New" and just call it the:-

"Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway

 

[clc]

It's a daft name which no-one will use. Just get it built.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Quite. Who cares what it's called - no doubt the brand will change every time the TOC changes anyway. Just build it.

 

[anti-pacer]

TransPennineTurboPower

....anyone?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I have a wonderful idea here in regards to what the new line could be called.
It could simply be called the "New Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway".

There would be grumbles from Newcastle, Cheshire and other counties.
In any case the line's route might actually be closer to a "New CLC + MS&L" line if it goes via Manchester Airport.

 

[JP]

There would be grumbles from Newcastle, Cheshire and other counties.
In any case the line's route might actually be closer to a "New CLC + MS&L" line if it goes via Manchester Airport.

It does indeed, but it's currently planned to be a terminus rather than a through station.

 

[HSTEd]

I very much doubt there will be any significant new track built.

The end of the HS3 moniker ends any illusions that this isn't just a rebrand of the TPE upgrade package.

 

[snowball]

They've been trying to change the HS3 name for a year or two now. I forget the first alternative name they intoduced. It didn't seem to catch on. The change to "Northern Powerhouse Rail" was first announced in some of the large batch of documents relating to transport in the north that were published simultaneously on November 30th 2015.

Unlike HSTEd I think the chances of it being largely new route have increased over the last year or so, not decreased.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Why not call it:
North Trans-Pennine Mainline (NTPML)?
The dropping of the HS3 title suggests no 125mph running.
I like the Turbo Power suggestion, more than Powerhouse Rail anyway.

 

[Camden]

Why not call it Transpennine Express. Because that is what it will be, if they've already decided that it can't be called "HS3".

It would be interesting to see where the kickback against the use of "HS3" originated. Figures in government seemed quite happy to run with it. So it seems the kickback may have come from somewhere in the north itself.

Since knocking "HS3" into the long grass obviously reduces the likelihood of any new build being high speed rail, there are obvious implications of renaming it versus the ambitions of some areas in the north.

 

[snowball]

Since knocking "HS3" into the long grass obviously reduces the likelihood of any new build being high speed rail, there are obvious implications of renaming it versus the ambitions of some areas in the north.

My impression is that, on the contrary, it seems to be coming more under the influence of Rail North, which is a bunch of local authorities.

 

[backontrack]

How about just TPML (TransPennine Main Line)? A bit boring, though...

 

[GRALISTAIR]

However, as for calling it 'Northern Powerhouse Rail' I think if Labour get in and the scheme goes ahead that name will be revised again.

As long as it gets built they can call it whatever they want!

+1

Just get it built.

+1

Who cares what it's called - Just build it.

+1

How about just TPML (TransPennine Main Line)? A bit boring, though...

That will be fine too.

 

[lejog]

They've been trying to change the HS3 name for a year or two now. I forget the first alternative name they intoduced. It didn't seem to catch on. The change to "Northern Powerhouse Rail" was first announced in some of the large batch of documents relating to transport in the north that were published simultaneously on November 30th 2015.

Unlike HSTEd I think the chances of it being largely new route have increased over the last year or so, not decreased.

I seem to recall that it was called TransNorth for a spell, but as you say that didn't catch on.

 

[snowball]

Yes, that's the name I was trying to remember.

 

[southern442]

NORTHERN POWERHOUSE RAIL???!!!?? Someone get this forum a vomiting emoji! It's too late at night for cringes like this!

 

[All Line Rover]

TransPennineTurboPower

....anyone?

I like it!

As Camden says, however, 'TransPennine Express' would be a perfectly adequate name. Non-branded and descriptive of the route served, which fits with current government policy except for the fact that it implies nothing is happening.

Calling the existing network 'TransPennine Express' is something of a joke. It might be a limited stop service, but crawling through Guide Bridge at 40 km/h is not 'express'.

I'm surprised threads discussing future development of the TransPennine network appear in the 'Future High Speed Rail' subforum. 'High Speed Rail' means 250+ km/h.

 

[najaB]

I'm surprised threads discussing future development of the TransPennine network appear in the 'Future High Speed Rail' subforum. 'High Speed Rail' means 250+ km/h.

There was discussion at one point of developing the Trans Pennine as a 125mph+ route.

 

[Haydn1971]

There was discussion at one point of developing the Trans Pennine as a 125mph+ route.

That's still possible - I'm seeing a dual prong approach developing, one to streamline the existing routes into higher capacity wired lines for benefits from the mid 2020's, the second to provide a longer term solution for a high speed rail link for perhaps 2040 and beyond.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

They could always break with convention and call it the Woodhead Route......

 

[AM9]

'Northern Powerhouse Rail' is just a holding name until 2019 when a new name will be launched for the 2020 General Election.

 

[Camden]

'Northern Powerhouse Rail' is just a holding name until 2019 when a new name will be launched for the 2020 General Election.

"GoVote2020" ?

Re-branding the general election would probably do a good job of distracting attention from what by then will probably be the Manchester Stalybridge Northern TransPowerPennine Express Railway Enhancements Project (Phase 1).

 

[southern442]

'Northern Powerhouse Rail' is just a holding name until 2019 when a new name will be launched for the 2020 General Election.

It is the tackiest, most pretentious name I have heard. They might as well have called it the 'Osbourne line' or 'The Railway Line Built To Serve The Hard Working Families In The Northern Areas', it is just one hell of an advert for the Tories. Something like NorthLink would be fine, although if I had my way it would be called British Rail

Anyway, as stated before, the name is something we can (dis)agree on later, lets build the damn thing. I think that this line should be HS2 and not the London to Birmingham shuttle bus that we have planned now, this line would be far more useful than something in the South.

 

[AM9]

... Anyway, as stated before, the name is something we can (dis)agree on later, lets build the damn thing. I think that this line should be HS2 and not the London to Birmingham shuttle bus that we have planned now, this line would be far more useful than something in the South.

You clearly haven't understood the real reason why HS2 is required between London and the Midlands, but as that is off topic for this thread I'll leave it there.

 

[southern442]

Britain might as well be re-named 'Tack-tastic.' Up north you will have Northern Powerhouse Rail (bleurgh) and down south you will have the 'Elizabeth line' (most short-sighted renaming ever).

I really wish that these projects would stop being named in an attempt to sell the Conservatives to all those Hard Working Families (cringe) or sell Crossrail to tourists and actually be given a decent, catchy, memorable and relevant name - that is, after all, the whole point of naming projects like this.

 

[Camden]

I think commenting on how Britain at the moment is naff PR central is pretty valid, in the context of the Northern Powerhouse Rail thread. The Liz, as I will be calling it from now on, as another good example.

 

[222ben]

Just get it BUILT!
Or do the conservatives make promises but don't deliver on them?
STOP DITHERING YOU SPUDS AND BUILD THE LINE!
I DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS JUST IMPROVE LIV-MANCHESTER-LEEDS-YORK ROUTES!
rant over.