What UK HSR Could Have Been

[Peter Kelford]

Unfortunately, it is now to late to act unless the UK government is comparable to that of China. Nonetheless, it is interesting to think what our current high speed, express and intercity rail network could have been like if the UK government kept up with France, Italy and Spain.

A route map is on its way, but it suffices to say in the meantime that most large towns and cities would have access to high speed rail from both the city centre and an out of town HS station. The high speed train would certainly also be ubiquitous.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The UK isn't like France or Spain - both of those are big "square" countries and ours is a long thin one. Probably a bit more like Italy, though.

 

[Peter Kelford]

Here's the map.

 

[adrock1976]

I've had a quick eyeball at the map, but could you tell what the black lines are and the red lines are, being as there is no legend to say what they mean?

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Red is I think existing and black is new?

 

[adrock1976]

Red is I think existing and black is new?

How does that explain HS1 from London to Paris/Bruxells Midi being a black line?

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

How does that explain HS1 from London to Paris/Bruxells Midi being a black line?

New build high speed. Red being existing classic line upgraded to High Speed.

 

[Peter Kelford]

New build high speed. Red being existing classic line upgraded to High Speed.

Almost. Black is a new line while red is an upgraded line where high speed train run on them, at 160km/h to 250km/h

 

[Peter Kelford]

I've had a quick eyeball at the map, but could you tell what the black lines are and the red lines are, being as there is no legend to say what they mean?

Yes, Black is a new line while red is a 'guaranteed standard' line which high speed trains would utilise to reach more remote cities.

 

[randyrippley]

so a new WCML running through the Kent, Lune, Eden and Tyne valleys?
Good luck getting that to work - there's no way that would get past the environmentalists, and for most of the route there won't be room for the straight formation required - the existing track already uses the best contour route and would get in the way.
This map is just imaginary crayoning

As for the route west of Bournemouth, you've routed it through protected wild heathland, then the North Downs which would create one heck of a switchback rollercoaster, and then over the Blackdowns. All the valleys run north-south and you'd have to bridge them with some massive viaducts






g

 

[Peter Kelford]

Consecutive significant viaducts on both motorway and high speed railway exist in France and China. Succumbing to environmentalists is part of the political and financial issues here in the UK. Once people genuinely start to feel the benefits of HSR, there will be less and less people supporting the anti-HSR groups, leaving a hardcore minority.

 

[tasky]

Here's my effort with the crayons

Highlights

- New alignment in the North East running via Teeside and Sunderland. Could still have classic compatible services to Darlington and Durham
- Lower east coast line running via Cambridge, Peterborough, Lincoln, Doncaster. Faster route to Leeds and the NE than via Birmingham on HS2.
- East Anglia line taking in Stansted Airport, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich. Allows intensification of Essex metro services on the GEML, and HS1-style high speed commuter services picking up passengers on classic lines and then going fast from say Ipswich
- Edinburgh Glasgow line with some kind of junction at Carstairs
- West coast route via Lancaster, Preston, Carlisle with London- Scotland in 2h30
- New GWML high-speed replacement allows intensification of metro and short commuter services on GWML
- New South Wales line that enters Swansea directly
- NPR built to 300kph but also a new Manchester-Sheffield line across the Pennines
- Tunnelled line under Dartmoor to cut the Exeter-Plymouth journey from an hour down to 15 mins
- Might as well do a tunnel to Ireland since none of this is ever going to happen

 

[Peter Kelford]

none of this is ever going to happen

Sad but true

 

[tasky]

For what it's worth I think we'll probably end up with the extension of HS2 to Scotland, as the Scottish government is serious about it and already looking to build the first bit around Carstairs. Liverpool-Manchester-Leeds will happen too, but maybe not to a very high speed.

I imagine by the time HS2 is finished there'll probably be at least another project in the works, too. Politically, extending the Yorkshire arm to the North East could come up - another place that actively wants high-speed rail to come to it. Who knows, maybe a line to the south west – 2033 is a very long time.