GCML as HS2

[HSTEd]

Could always electrify Hope Valley in that case.... store Woodhead away for "Maybe if those insane estimates come true", I do think its probably folly to do anything too irreversible to the route though.

EDIT:
54km on Hope Valley Line (Hazel Grove-Sheffield), so 108 track kilometres and about ~£50 million and perhaps some for resignalling
153km on Midland Main Line (Bedford-Dore) so 306-612 track kilometres and £150-300 million
So we will say about £250 million for infrastructure.
Same stock order so about ~£300 million.
So £550 million to £700 million.

 

[dalmahoyhill]

Sorry i just don't buy the GC as an alternative I think that is built on nostalgia and understandable annoyance of the idiocy of many of the Beeching cuts. Reopen old lines for commuting (like Airdrie Bathgate) or freight but not for Intercity services.

Sections of the GC have been built over, especially in the population centres. Four tracking of existing lines is just horrifically expensive and disruptive, the WCML upgrade is a great parable for 'upgrading' existing lines. Upgrading the GC line out of London is just going to be horrific in cost, disruption for limited increase in capacity. It doesnt address Rugby to Birmingham.

If you want the capacity of HS2 you will need cab signalling, still expensive. Just because it is an existing line doesn't mean it can be 'opened tommorow' it would still need to go through the same consultation and drawn out planning as HS2. It will have to comply with the same environmental legislation as HS2 so will probably require amendment to structures and sound attenuation measures. It will probably gain a similar level of opprobrium from anyone along the route as HS2 has.

It wont take modal share of the market that the full HS2 Y network will do to journeys north as times wont be as competitive and it wont service the population coverage of HS2. Personally i was pleasantly surprised by Lord Adonis and the HS2 proposal, it is the first bit of sensible transport planning in decades. Well thought out and considered.
I think are core point is no-one else in the world is doing this, they are all building HSR, separating Intercity from other services is the way to go.

 

[stanley T]

There's speed and there's capacity. Freight has to be accommodated as well.

It does indeed make no sense to rebuild the GCML as a high speed line, you spend perhaps $10bn for very limited benefit. As a possible freight route to relieve the WCML south of Rugby, where the worst congestion is, it could be useful, and much cheaper.

A quick look at Google Earth suggests that very little has been built on it between Aylesbury and Rugby (even north of there to Leicester it's mostly intact).

The wise thing would be to protect the route now from further encroachment.