HS2 journey times from Old Oak Common to Edinburgh

[Nottingham59]

When HS2 phase 1 to Handsacre opens in 2030-33, will the fastest route from London to Edinburgh be via HS2 and Carlisle? What about when/if phase 2a gets built to Baldwin's Gate or Crewe?

And does this mean current investment in Anglo-Scottish capacity should focus on WCML rather than the ECML?

EDIT: Proposed journey times from Euston via HS2 Phase 1 are 1h48m to Preston and 4h00m to Glasgow. (Figures from HS2 Phase One Environmental Statement)

Current Pendolino timings from Carlisle are 1h13m to Glasgow, 1h11m to Haymarket and 1h18m to Waverley. Taking 10 minutes off for starting at Old Oak Common suggests 3h55m from OOC to Waverley when Phase 1 opens.

What timings will be possible via the ECML in 2033?

 

[HSTEd]

My understanding is that journey times from King's Cross to Edinburgh will be comparable at around ~4 hours.

The question of what main line should be invested in for Anglo-Scottish capacity is probably far broader than merely considering journey times.
The settlement patterns of Northern England should have a major impact, given the lopsided population distribution at the top of England.

 

[Nottingham59]

My understanding is that journey times from King's Cross to Edinburgh will be comparable at around ~4 hours.

That's my assumption too. Thanks. And if they ever build phase 2a, then the West Coast route will win hands down.

The question of what main line should be invested in for Anglo-Scottish capacity is probably far broader than merely considering journey times.

DfT seem fixated on them. Headline journey times for London-Edinburgh seem to be driving the ECML timetable issue, at the expense of other priorities.

The settlement patterns of Northern England should have a major impact, given the lopsided population distribution at the top of England.

By all means invest in the route between Yorkshire and Newcastle. But my thinking is that if the main route to Edinburgh shifts to Carlisle, then investment in the West Coast route will have much greater returns, as it will speed up traffic to both Glasgow and Edinburgh.