Connect HS2 to HS1 some WCML extend to Stratford.

[matacaster]

In addition to boring new tunnel from old Oak Common to Euston (with all its capacity issues and problems during construction) could that bore ALSO go further as a through route and link up with HS1 somewhere east of kings cross? Some WCML trains, could then terminate at Stratford which I think has spare capacity. I do realise there are a lot of tunnels in the way, but where there is a will!

 

[Sad Sprinter]

The trouble is that Stratford kinda sucks as an interchange. Others will swear that it's a perfectly convenient interchange with the main Stratford station, but people are just going to look at the map and see one DLR route (that only goes to Woolwich) and just stick to Euston. Sometimes the idea is floated to use Stratford as the eastern OOC for a second London to Northern England high speed line. But even then, it just doesn't seem that convenient.

 

[matacaster]

I was thinking that although Stratford would be the terminus, kings cross / st pancras could be a stop on the way.

 

[SynthD]

It’s possible, but expensive and disruptive, for a connection that just isn’t that necessary. Two London termini for the two high speed lines only ten minutes apart is itself a good solution.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In addition to boring new tunnel from old Oak Common to Euston (with all its capacity issues and problems during construction) could that bore ALSO go further as a through route and link up with HS1 somewhere east of kings cross? Some WCML trains, could then terminate at Stratford which I think has spare capacity. I do realise there are a lot of tunnels in the way, but where there is a will!

The fundamental problem is that London is in the bottom right hand corner of England and so there's next to no demand for travel across it in that direction, certainly not enough to do something with 10tph. If the capital was Birmingham a through line would make sense, but it isn't.

 

[swt_passenger]

In addition to boring new tunnel from old Oak Common to Euston (with all its capacity issues and problems during construction) could that bore ALSO go further as a through route and link up with HS1 somewhere east of kings cross? Some WCML trains, could then terminate at Stratford which I think has spare capacity. I do realise there are a lot of tunnels in the way, but where there is a will!

The originally planned HS2-HS1 link was to be a single tunnel from Old Oak Common running parallel to the Euston tunnels, but diverging and connecting to the NLL near Camden, and it would have allowed for access to either St Pancras station and HS1 with a reversal, or though services without calling. As a single track it probably wouldn’t have had capacity for a domestic high speed service to Stratford as well.

Your proposal has been made many times before though, I’m surprised you‘ve missed that it’s always been explained why it won’t happen…

There was a question about the proposed route of the HS2/HS1 link only a few days ago in the TBM progress thread, starts about post #410 here:

HS2 TBM Progress

Great! Are there many more shafts for either set before they reach the end?

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