More High-Speed Trains for Britain

January 11th, 2012 by Charis Michelsen

A comprehensive network of clean, quick, and punctual trains is a wonderful thing. It also seems to be somewhat rare, but Britain is taking a massive step forward in that respect. The HS2 high-speed rail scheme is meant to improve on the infrastructure of Britain’s rail network, connecting London to Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds and using £32.7 billion ($50 billion USD) to do it.

Building the Tracks

The HS2 trains will carry over 1,000 passengers each, some through a number of green tunnels (green because they reduce the amount of earth excavated for construction and, thereby, save money; the environmental benefits are somewhat unclear) in order to preserve picturesque landscapes.

Construction on the tunnels is set to start no earlier than 2017, and the first trains are scheduled to start running in 2026 (no, you cannot buy tickets yet). The entire network is slated for completion in 2033, by which time transport secretary Justine Greening anticipates much quicker travel between major metropolitan areas and also between the north of England and Scotland to London.

Build A New Network or Fix the Old One?

The nearly two-decade plan isn’t without its opposition; there are strong feelings on both sides of the fence. Part of the opposition stems from the cost – the high-speed option is roughly 10% more expensive than trying to upgrade the current system – but Greening feels that doing it properly from the outset will have more long-term benefits. Responding to the need for an entirely new system, she told The Guardian:

“At the heart is the need to address capacity shortfall. Unless we take action, by the 2020s the west coast main line will be full. We’ve used the rail network in a way the Victorians would be proud of. But there comes a time when you can’t just patch things up. It’s clear the existing network won’t deliver. We need a new line.”

Not In My Back Yard

Other opponents worry about the construction itself and the potential for the new lines to be an eyesore (NIMBY, as it were). Greening, however, says that the first phase of construction will create 40,000 jobs, which should relieve some of those concerns.

Still, others worry that the money invested in the new system will not be efficiently spent. Railway expert Christian Wolmar spoke to The Guardian about his reservations:

“The government is driving through this project even though the evidence suggests that there are cheaper alternatives well worth looking at that would relieve other overcrowded parts of the network, such as lines out of Paddington and Victoria.”

A more efficient rail network, particularly if the trains themselves can be outfitted with cleaner technology, could go a long way toward reducing both traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. The HS2 project is still a long way from even the final stages of planning, but it is a hopeful step toward greener transportation.

Key points

400m and 1,000+ seats per train

26,000 extra seats for intercity routes

250mph trains

travel distance nearly halved on some intercity routes

Source: The Guardian | Image: Wikimedia Commons

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Tags: congestion, Europe, high speed rail system, high speed railway, infrastructure, just get on the train already, public transit, public transportation, railway infrastructure, reduce traffic, traffic

About the Author

Charis Michelsen spent 7 years living in Germany and Japan, studying both languages extensively, doing translation and education with companies like Bosch, Nissan, Fuji Heavy, and others. Charis has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and currently lives in Chicago, Illinois. She also believes that Janeway was the best Star Trek Captain.

construction jobs

The government is driving through this project even though the evidence suggests that there are cheaper alternatives well worth looking at that would relieve other overcrowded parts of the network, such as lines out of Paddington and Victoria.The advantage that HSR will have is that the infrastructure costs can be shared with freight. During nighttime when passenger use is down the rails can be filled with freight thus offering a faster and cheaper alternative to highway trucking.
jburt56

High speed rail makes sense in England.
- Scott Boldberg
  
  High speed rail makes sense everywhere.
  - Zivbnd
    
    HSR works best when the population density is higher, it still works in a widely dispersed country like the US, but it doesn’t work as well and US HSR will probably cost more than its Euro and Asian equivalents due to that fact.
    - Anonymous
      
      The important metric is cost per mile for HSR vs. flying.
      
      If HSR can transport at a comparable price for moderate distance trips then it is a winner. And as petroleum prices continue to rise it’s going to be easier for HSR to take over from planes.
      
      One advantage that HSR will have is that the infrastructure costs can be shared with freight. During nighttime when passenger use is down the rails can be filled with freight thus offering a faster and cheaper alternative to highway trucking. Same rails, same engines, just different rolling stock. (And cheaper electricity during off-peak.)

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